If you had any doubts about the timeliness of the freedom of religion vs. freedom from religion topic for NCFL Grand Nationals even after the recent court decisions that allowed a cross on public land, rejected a National Day of Prayer, and the retained “under God” in the Pledge of Allegiance, then pay attention to what is happening in Texas.

The Texas Board of Education will vote this week on new social studies curriculum standards that could mean significant changes in textbook content.

Among the recommendations facing a final vote: adding language saying the country’s Founding Fathers were guided by Christian principles and including positive references to the Moral Majority, the National Rifle Association and the GOP’s Contract with America.

Other amendments to the state’s curriculum standards for kindergarten through 12th grade would minimize Thomas Jefferson’s role in world and U.S. history because he advocated the separation of church and state; require that students learn about “the unintended consequences” of affirmative action; assert that “the right to keep and bear arms” is an important element of a democratic society; and rename the slave trade to the “Atlantic triangular trade.”

A new study about public and private sector wages has been released just in time for the Tournament of Champions. From CNN Money:

State and local workers earn less than their private sector counterparts and the pay gap is widening, according to a report released Wednesday.

Public workers earn 11% to 12% less than workers in private companies, according to a joint study from the Center for State and Local Government Excellence and National Institute on Retirement Security.

The full report (and a summary) are available from the Center for State & Local Government Excellence.

Free topic resources for the April 2010 (Government Employee Labor Unions) topic include:

• Planet Debate — Lecture on Government Employee Unions
• Planet Debate — April PF Topic Analysis
• Rupe Scholars — The NFL’s topic resource site for the February, March, and April  topics. Check throughout the month.
• Debate Central — April Topic Overview

Free topic resources for the February 2010 (Lobbying) topic include:

• Speak Up: February Topic Resources
• Planet Debate: February PF Analysis on Lobbying
• Planet Debate: Lobbying Lecture
• Forensics Online: February Resources
• Debate Central: February Topic Overview

Peters in 2009,
Gretchen Peters [Journalist Who Covers Afghanistan and Pakistan. Author of Seeds of Terror]. “Heroin, The Taliban and the ‘Seeds of Terror.’” NPR’s Fresh Air. Interview by Dave Davies. May 11, 2009. http://www.npr.org/templates/transcript/transcript.php?storyId=103957098. Accessed January 21, 2010.

DAVIES: But where is the heroin that’s used in America come from if not from the opium in Afghanistan?

Ms. PETERS: The heroin used in the United States generally comes from Latin America. So there were points in recent history, as recently as the 1980s when about 40 percent of the heroin sold in U.S. streets came from Pakistan and Afghanistan. That’s no longer true. However, I have heard reports that the amount of Afghan heroin being sold in the United States is on the increase. But it’s very, very incremental. To me, what’s the bigger issue is that insurgent groups who are fighting against U.S. troops in Afghanistan are using money that they get from the drugs trade to attack our soldiers. Every time a U.S. soldier dies in an IED attack in Afghanistan there’s an extremely good chance that opium money paid for that IED.

What worries me more is that al-Qaida also appears to be profiting from the drugs trade, which means the next time, God-forbid, they launch an attack on the United States there’s a very good chance the drug money will pay for that attack.

One of the decisions I have made for the new year is to discontinue the PFDebate Topic Analysis. I struggle to make myself write it every month and several other sources (see below) have started providing free topic analysis papers. I have an idea for an alternative, but I’m not yet prepared to talk about it.

I will continue to post the Crossfire Briefs Index at downloads.PFDebate.com when the issue is completed each month. The January 2010 Index has been added.

Free topic resources for the January 2010 (Obama’s Plan For Afghanistan) topic include:

• ForensicsOnline.net: January Resources
• Planet Debate: January Topic Analysis
• Planet Debate: Debating the Afghanistan Surge (Flash required)
• Debate Central: January Topic Overview
• Debatepedia: More Troops to Afghanistan Under Obama
• Speak Up: January Topics

The PFDebate Topic Analysis — December 2009 is now available as a free download.

Other free topic resources for the December 2009 (Teacher Merit Pay) topic:

• ForensicsOnline.net: December Resources
• Planet Debate: December Topic Analysis
• Debate Central: December Topic Overview
• Debatepedia: Merit Pay for Teachers
• NFLtv: Charles Dahan Interview

The CX topic ballot for 2010-11 has been narrowed to two choices:

China
Resolved: The United States federal government should substantially increase its economic engagement with the People’s Republic of China on one or more of the following issues: trade, economy, environment.

Military Deployment
Resolved: The United States federal government should substantially reduce its military and/or police presence in one or more of the following: South Korea, Japan, Afghanistan, Kuwait, Iraq, Turkey.

The 2010-11 topic will be announced on January 8, 2010. Because of the NFL’s involvement with The People Speak (TPS) and the International Public Policy Forum (IPPF), it is almost a certainty the the Public Forum Debate topic for September, October, or November will overlap with the CX topic that is selected.

Ripon, WI — Political science professor Steve Yetiv of Old Dominion University wrote an op-ed column in yesterday’s (October 27, 2009) Christian Science Monitor that is quite relevant to the dynamics surrounding November’s Public Forum Debate topic, “Resolved: Failed nations are a greater threat to the United States than stable nations.” The column explores the United States’ relative decline on the world stage and the implications this may have to global security.

The NFL has partnered with the Stanley Foundation to provide resources for the November topic. The Stanley Foundation’s mission is to promote public understanding, constructive dialogue, and cooperative action on critical international issues. Its work recognizes the essential roles of both the policy community and the broader public in building sustainable peace, and to that end, this topic falls within their “human protection” focus area.

Public Forum Debate squads can find myriad resources as catalysts for research.

Pursuant to its mission, the Stanley Foundation is thrilled to hear student discourse and public engagement on this issue, and the NFL is excited to raise awareness of the medium of debate as a tool for engaging the public and showcasing our fine student members. Indeed, this initiative seeks to include the public in Public Forum Debate!

Here is how you can get involved:

Public Engagement

Coaches and tournament directors, find members of the local community to judge Public Forum Debate on your behalf. Reach out to your local chamber of commerce, city council, Rotary, Kiwanis, church groups, etc. (Click here for a list of directories). Ask your guest judge to serve on a finals panel, or whenever they’re available during a tournament. Allow them to help hand out awards and share a few remarks on behalf of the organization they represent. Don’t forget to tell them about all the great benefits of forensics! Download a convenient guide to judging .

Video Documentation

We encourage teams to video record their pro and con cases, and for coaches to arrange with other coaches to record full debates, all of which can be submitted to the NFL in December as part of our debriefing with the Stanley Foundation. Your school and the NFL benefit from promoting the activity of debate, and the Stanley Foundation benefits from observing how students are learning and raising awareness on issues important to the foundation.

Questions about this unique project? Contact Adam Jacobi.

The PFDebate Topic Analysis — November 2009 is now available as a free download.

Other free topic resources for the November 2009 (Failed vs. Stable Nations) topic:

• ForensicsOnline.net: November Resources
• Planet Debate: November Topic Analysis
• Debate Central: November  Topic Overview