The Black and White

by Kaylie Martell

Mrs. Bizragane’s exceptional leadership in guiding Pilgrim High School’s debate team to victory truly deserves recognition. She and her students were completely new to being part of a debate team, knowing nothing about its setup, any of its rules, or how the competition – the RI Forensics League – was run. She describes their approach as going in “completely blind.” From the beginning of the year to their last debate, she explains how the team has come a long way, learning everything they needed to know, which allowed them to begin strategizing and preparing. 

Mrs. Bizragane was drawn to this club due to the excitement of exploring a whole new way of thinking philosophically and connecting with new students, all while venturing into a completely different path, as she is a chemistry teacher. This furthered her drive to “revive” the debate team. She also mentioned that she enjoys the competition aspect, as it allows her students to compete against different teams and schools, providing them with a well-rounded experience. 

She hopes her students’ positive experiences will inspire and attract more students to join in the next couple of years. She also plans to organize more activities and expand from there. One example is the Ethics Bowl, an annual competition hosted by Brown University, where high school students from across Rhode Island come together to discuss ethical questions. Mrs. Bizragrane adds that being part of this team offers valuable experience, as debate is offered in college, and strong speaking skills are essential. She believes that being able to express and defend a position without relying on emotions is a crucial skill.  

Mrs. Bizragane said she absolutely plans to continue leading this club, hopefully long-term. “I’m having a lot of fun. I look forward to every Saturday. Even though it’s a long day, it’s a lot of fun! I’m thrilled that I decided to do this.” Thanks to her leadership, Mrs. Bizragane has helped her students develop strong debating, argumentation, and speaking skills, making them more confident and overall stronger debaters. She is incredibly impressed with their overall growth. “They’ve been awesome. They’ve definitely exceeded expectations. They’ve been fiercely competitive. I’m just really proud of them.” “I think everyone should join debate!” she adds.