Students Formally Debate School Merger

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - The Memphis Urban Debate League gathered at Rhodes College Sunday afternoon to voice their concerns on the issue of a possible merger with the Shelby County school district.

Countless adults have been debating the MCS charter surrender issue since the school board made the historic decision back in December. Now, this is the first time students are speaking out publicly on the topic.

Students with the Memphis Urban Debate League went head to head debating over the Memphis City Schools charter surrender and the possible merger with Shelby County Schools.

This is the first time these MCS students have spoken out publicly since their school board voted to give up its charter back in December. The Rhodes College Campus Life Center was their platform Sunday to argue both sides of the controversial topic.

Whitehaven High School senior Angel Conway's team argued against the merger.

"I'm hoping the Memphis voters vote not to consolidate," Conway argued. "I think the public is blind... They think it's going to make it better for the students and teachers when it's not. It's actually going to cause a lot of economic woes."

While both sides have opposing views on why the merger should or should not happen, they all share one commonality, saying ongoing debate between MCS and SCS have diluted what they call the real issue.

"Everyone is forgetting about the students because we should be the ones they're talking to instead of all the politics because this is going to affect us," said Arlana Addison from Kingsbury High School.

"I'm hoping that more school board members will come to us and actually hear what we have to say because as my partner stated, this will affect us more," added Ebony Bailey, also from Kingsbury High School.

"I feel like education is the most important thing for students and if they're not focusing on that then what's the point for consolidation,” said Ashley Ray from Whitehaven High School.

This debate was one of two for the team on this particular topic. The next one is scheduled for February 5th at 4:00pm at the University of Memphis Psychology Auditorium. The debate is free and open to the public.

Memphis residents will head to the polls March 8th to vote on the merger.