Mielke Family Fun: Speech Contest 2014

Our school was a little late on getting organized for a speech contest, so it was held on February 18, after fairly short notice. The theme is always patriotic in nature and I 'made' both the girls take part. The speeches are to be based on a quote from a prescribed list or to make an persuasive argument about patriotism. Both girls chose a quote.

So on February 18, Heritage had their speech contest. Carolyn was the only junior high student to participate, so of course, she won her division. The judges assured me she deserved to win and it wasn't totally by default. Elyse was the only 5th grader to compete in the 5/6th grade division and she eeked out the win - by one point - to represent the 5/6th grades in the district contest. They were both quite excited. I was quite proud.

Today was the PUSD Speech Contest. I got to listen to Elyse's speech, based on Eleanor Roosevelt's words: "Without equality there can be no democracy." She did very well, but was not placed in the top 5. I heard the 4th and 5th place speakers; I thought she deserved to be at least 5th.

Elyse proudly represented Heritage in the 5th/6th Grade Division.

Carolyn's speech was based on a quote by Lyndon B. Johnson: "This is what America is all about: it is the uncrossed desert, and the unclimbed ridge; it is the star that is not reached and the harvest that is sleeping in the unplowed ground." I was not allowed (Carolyn's rule) to listen to her speech, but her teacher that did listen said she did well -- she did well enough to place 5th.