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The Bancroft Literary Association and the Carrollton-Wight Literary Society are two competing forensic societies at the Baltimore City College and are the formal names for the school's speech and debates teams. Founded in 1876 and 1878 respectively, the Bancroft and Carrollton-Wight Societies are the oldest literary societies at a public high school in the United States.〔Leonhart (1939), p. 233.〕 Historically, the two societies competed mainly between themselves. The rivalry culminated each year with an annual debate. In the 20th century, the societies began to compete with other secondary schools and some universities. At the time, the teams' most notable rival was Baltimore Polytechnic Institute, City College's chief rival in sports and academics. The Bancroft and Carrollton-Wight Societies disbanded for a time in the 1980s and early-1990s, but were revived in the late-1990s. Baltimore City College is a charter member of the Chesapeake Region of the National Forensics League and the National Catholic Forensic League, and is founding member of the Baltimore Catholic Forensic League and the Baltimore Urban Debate League. The Bancroft Literary Association and Carrollton-Wight Literary Society now exist as the Baltimore City College Speech and Debate team. Bancroft members compete in speech events which include Dramatic Interpretation of Literature, Declamation, Extemporaneous Speaking, and Original Oratory. The Carrollton-Wight Literary Society competes in debate events which include Student Congress, Lincoln-Douglas Debate, Policy Debate, and Public Forum Debate. Although, there are some students that participate in both societies, a rivalry persists between members of the two societies. Members of the societies rarely, if ever, compete directly against each other, preferring to participate in interscholastic competitions. In recent years, Baltimore City College Speech and Debate has become one of the most well-regarded high school programs in country. Since 2010, City has earned multiple bids to the Tournament of Champions (TOC) and advanced to the final round at a number of major national tournaments, including the National Catholic Forensic League Grand National Tournament. In 2013, Baltimore City College Debate won the National Association of Urban Debate Leagues (NAUDL) policy debate national championship. The program is currently under the direction of Patrick Daniels, City College's Director of Speech and Debate. ==History== The first student literary society at Baltimore City College was called the Peabody Lyceum. The group held its first meeting on October 4, 1859 under the direction of Professor Lovejoy. Meetings were conducted using parliamentary procedure with members being fined for poor decorum. Admission to the society was based on an individuals ranking in his class. The society would request the names of the top performing students and then invite those students to appear before the body. After a student's appearance before the society, admission would be debated and if the student garnered a 2/3 vote, the individual would be granted membership to the Peabody Lyceum. Members were selected to perform declamations or to debate one another. The society continued for nearly a decade until June 11, 1869, when with tensions in the group mounting over the removal of one of its members, the president of the society moved to adjourn ''sine die''. A second literary society formed several years later, calling itself the Sheppard Society, but it dissolved shortly before the creation of the Bancroft Society.〔 Baltimore City College's modern speech and debate program began with the creation of the Bancroft Literary Association in 1876.〔(【引用サイトリンク】 publisher=Baltimore City College Alumni Association )〕 The society was named for George Bancroft, the American historian and U.S. Secretary of the Navy.〔Leonhart (1939), p. 44.〕 At that time it was the only extracurricular activity at the school. William Elliott, Jr., principal, explained the role of the Bancroft Literary Association in the annual report to the Board of School Commissioners in 1878: A second competing society was established in 1878 as the Carrollton Society, named after Charles Carroll of Carrollton. In 1897, following the passing of Professor Charles C. Wight, professor of English and History, the Carrollton Society was renamed the Carrollton-Wight Literary Society. An annual debate was held between the two societies starting in 1880. Much like their predecessor the Peabody Lyceum, the societies conducted meetings according to prescribed parliamentary procedure. However, unlike their predecessor, membership to the societies was open to all members of the student body. Though the societies competed principally between themselves, several debates with other high schools were conducted in the early 20th century. In 1906, after several years of defeat, City won its first debate against rival Central High School of Philadelphia in the so-called "inter-city debate". The topic of the debate was, "''Resolved'', that it would be to the best interests of the people of the United States for the Government to own and operate its railroads."〔Leonhart (1939), p. 94.〕 Three debaters from Central affirmed the resolution, while three opposing debaters from City negated the resolution. The panel of judges included John P. Poe, former Maryland Attorney General and dean of the University of Maryland School of Law. In 1908, City College met rival Baltimore Polytechnic Institute in the first of a series of annual debates. The debate against Poly was considered by members to be the highlight of the year. The members of the literary societies continued seeking opponents at other secondary schools and also debated against several college teams. In 1935, the societies triumphed over the freshmen team from New York University. In the same year, the societies also competed against Johns Hopkins University, George Washington University, University of Maryland, and Washington College.〔Leonhart (1939), p. 145.〕 Though Bancroft/Carrollton-Wight members began to routinely compete against other schools, the societies continued to hold an annual debate. The fiftieth annual debate of the Bancroft and Carrollton-Wight Societies coincided with the centennial of City in 1939.〔Leonhart (1939), p. 165.〕 In addition to providing forums for the development of student debaters, the societies focused on declamation and oratory. In 1914, the societies began bestowing medals upon four graduating seniors with the best declamatory, debating, extemporaneous speaking, and essay skills. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Bancroft Literary Association and Carrollton-Wight Literary Society」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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