Dear Editor:

I wish to thank all those who helped me and my students in three, junior-English classes, prepare for and complete our Maine-2018-Elections Debate at Boothbay Region High School.

In separate talks, candidates Ms. Stephanie Hawke and Ms. Holly Stover devoted an hour out of their busy schedules to teach students their respective positions on health care, gun rights, education, and jobs and the economy, as well as answer students' questions about these topics.

Rotarians including Mr. Chip Griffin, Mr. Skip Kreahling, Mr. Steve Salorio, Mr. Lee Thompson, Mr. Griff Winthrop, and Mr. Bill Bailey gave feedback to students as to how to strengthen their opening-statement, draft arguments. Additionally, Mr. Salorio listened to and asked questions of students in one class, and Mr. Bailey, two classes, across five days of opening statements, question-and-answer sessions, and closing statements.

Ms. Medea Harris was a guest panelist, and Mr. Smith Climo, a guest moderator.

Ms. Kerrin Erhard, our high-school librarian, served as the principal moderator for all three classes.

I express to all of you my sincerest gratitude for helping students become informed citizens who can express themselves with clarity, with evidence, and without ad hominem.

Mark Gorey

Boothbay Region High School