Redwood students stage Revolutionary War debate

WEST ORANGE, NJ — Students in Paul Stefanelli’s fourth-grade Redwood Elementary School class amazed parents and guests with their remarkable prowess in the art of debate on March 11 as they argued the pros and cons of choosing patriot or loyalist stances during the American Revolution.

“Our class has been studying the American Revolution for the past several weeks and had a wonderful time debating the ‘Loyalists vs. Patriots,’” Stefanelli said in a release.

The program followed official debate format, with opening statements, details and closing statements.

The debate, held in Stefanelli’s classroom, began with the patriot team, who argued on behalf of independence and against loyalism, those who supported King George III and the British. When they finished their argument, the loyalists presented their argument to support the Crown and oppose the patriots. Both sides presented information spanning pre- to post-revolutionary timelines.

Students presented written and oral arguments, along with illustrated posters highlighting Revolutionary War events to underscore their points. Both sides offered descriptive and detailed information and added a dramatic flair that was both humorous and engaging.

“The loyalists and patriots debate made all those in attendance think about the point of view of both sides,” Stefanelli said. “And the students did a phenomenal job. Their hard work and knowledge was evident throughout the debate.”

The audience was then quizzed on what they had just learned, and a vote was cast to determine who “won” the debate — it was the patriots.

“These are absolutely the classroom experiences that kids will remember,” K-12 social studies supervisor Stephen Olshalsky said in the release. “I was very impressed with their content knowledge of the American Revolution. They constructed well-written arguments and did an excellent job presenting from both the patriot and loyalist perspectives. I love getting into our classrooms and seeing the kids engaged with history and having fun while learning.”

  Redwood Elementary School