BATH — Patten Free Library will host “Debating the Criminal Justice System: Rehabilitation or Retribution,” a public exhibition of debating techniques and procedure, by state high school debate champions Kyle Hietala of Bath and Ben Dobbins of Falmouth.
The debate demonstration is free, open to the public and will begin at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, May 25, in the secondfloor Community Room.
“I’ve been debating for three years,” said Kyle Hietala, a Morse High School junior. “What we do in debate is highly competitive, mentally rigorous and even entertaining. We hope that this exhibition will showcase what high school debaters do, and both inform and entertain the people who attend. Most importantly, we hope this event will show how and why civil discourse is important in maintaining healthy communities and a democratic society.”
This is the first program offered by the library’s new Teen Library Council, organized by David Rice, a Morse sophomore who also is a debater.
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