A class full of freshmen sits in anticipation. Their biology teacher paces the room, slowly handing back the rubric for their biome project. Unfortunately, many of the rubrics contain the same criticisms: no eye contact, read off the board, spoke too quietly, did not seem to know material well. These are the repercussions of a curriculum that lacks public speech.

Often called “declamation” and “oratory,”  public speech is simply communication with an audience. Speech skills play an important role in everything from presidential debates to class presentations. When we talk to convince, to evoke or to inform, we are engaging ourselves in public speech.

In many of these instances speaking well is a significant, if not critical, part of our success. The biology project was graded not just on breadth of knowledge but on factors such as confidence, word flow and eye contact. This is the case for almost all oral presentations, which are commonly used as quarter projects in WHS courses. Unlike grading students on grammar or spelling, which are conventions taught to them in elementary school, testing students on their speaking skills is like giving students a test on material they never learned.

Speech doesn’t only affect our grades; it also directly impacts many elements of our adult life. At the end of high school, most students find themselves at college interviews where sounding well-spoken and articulate can literally determine whether we end up getting into the college of our dreams. And it doesn’t end there. “Sounding the part” can determine whether employers want to hire us, whether we get that coveted promotion and whether we ultimately succeed in our career.

Speech is valuable on a personal level as well. A lesson in public speaking boosts students’ confidence in a way that algebra II or chemistry never will. Speech helps us express our anger or sadness without stumbling over our words, and it lets us talk about the things we love passionately and convincingly. Unlike many other subjects we learn in school, being able to speak is a practical skill.

Although the ability to speak publicly is important in many spheres, it remains inexplicably lost in our mandatory curriculum. Under the current system, a student who wants to study public speech can either take an elective or join a club, yet for both options, the cardinal issue is that most teenagers don’t have the time to commit themselves to something that isn’t a part of their core curriculum or immediate interests. Although Debate Team, Mock Trial and Model UN at WHS may teach valuable speech skills, students often already have their plates full with athletics, jobs and family obligations. For these busy students, taking an elective and joining a club are both not feasible.

Instead, why not include speech in English class? After all, a quick glance through the Program of Studies reveals that “speech skills” is listed as a part of both English I and II, yet, as a sophomore going into fourth quarter, I have not spent even a minute of class time being explicitly taught any of the skills necessary for speaking to an audience. For English teachers, this is as simple as just a few weeks, or even a few days, of class time dedicated to teaching students a skill that will be invaluable for the rest of their lives.

How much will students really lose if they spend fewer classes discussing the moral lessons of To Kill A Mockingbird? The answer: not a lot. On the other hand, when we send students out into the world without the skill they need to succeed in almost every career, it is a far greater tragedy than in any Shakespeare play.

Opinion articles written by staff members represent their personal views. The opinions expressed do not necessarily represent WSPN as a publication.