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This teacher needs your help!

Mr. Stevens from Brooklyn, NY is requesting technology through DonorsChoose, the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.

See what Mr. Stevens is requesting

Brooklyn debaters need timers and flow pens!

Serious high school debaters need to keep track of two things: time and arguments. Please help us!

  • $371 goal

Hooray! This project is fully funded

Hooray! This project is fully funded

Keep the momentum going! Make a donation to Mr. Stevens for his next project!

Help Mr. Stevens

Keep the momentum going! Make a donation to Mr. Stevens for his next project!

Dear Prospective Donor, High school debate rocks! At my school the debate team is a place where the diversity and intellect of our youth is on full display. Current topics include ways to improve federal anti-poverty programs and the pros and cons of standardized testing as requirements for high school graduation. Though I remain in love with the work I do in the classroom (teaching AP World History) in my thirteen years of teaching I seen students learn the most when they decide to debate. This is an activity where young people can channel their innate drive to question an opposing idea into a structured setting where evidence, wits and organization of ideas are matched against that of their peers from across New York and, at larger tournaments, the nation.

Quality timers and even pens are key to effective delivery of speeches and precise note-taking. In fact debate note-taking has evolved to the point where it's called "flowing" the arguments. Contrasting colors help supplement various shorthand and abbreviations debaters create when keeping track of what's been said so far in a debate round. While this initial proposal of mine from donorschoose won't supply all of our debaters (see photo!) it will serve as a super motivator if I can reward my most diligent debaters with timers and flow pens early on in the season.

It might sound silly but a good timer is hard to find and can really be quite expensive. When a three minute speech has to cover five distinct lines of argumentation it's key to have nice big numbers counting down so that we can make effective and timely transitions from one point to the next. Our team is advancing to the point where having a "rough idea" of how much time remains has left us just shy of making that one key closing argument we have needed to tack on as a speech draws to a close. Bi-color pens will ensure sharp contrast of the opposing arguments as the debate unfolds.

Our team worked hard enough to earn ten slots at last year's NY State Championship tournament. Your materials will be put to use immediately in practice and at tournaments that will stack us up against competitors from across the country at Yale in September and at the Bronx High School of Science in October. Perhaps the most important aspect of your support, though, will be the implicit message to my students that WHAT THEY DO COUNTS. Seeing that there are folks out there who value their decision to take on debate and develop skills so essential to the functioning of a democratic society so much that you will lend us your financial support affirms their work as much as any award we may be deserving of this year. We look forward to updating you with photos from upcoming tournaments as a follow-up to the initial thank-you package you can expect to receive as a token of our gratitude for your generous support.

Mr. Stevens Brooklyn Technical High School Grades 9-12

Celebrate Black teachers and kids! This project supports a Black teacher or a school where the majority of students are Black.

More about Mr. Stevens

Brooklyn, NY View local requests

More than half of students from low‑income households Data about students' economic need comes from the National Center for Education Statistics, via our partners at MDR Education. Learn more

24 students impacted 2donors

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Expand the "Where your donation goes" section below to see exactly what Mr. Stevens is requesting.

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Where Your Donation Goes

Where your donation goes
Materials Cost Quantity Total
Clock Timer • SchoolOutfitters.com $35.99 6 $215.94
ZEBRA PINK RIBBON BALLPOINT PEN, 2-COLOR, FINE PT -- Zebra Clip-on Pink Ribbon Retractable Ballpoint 2-Color Pen • Quill $4.04 12 $48.48

Materials cost

$264.42

Vendor shipping charges

 $26.44

Sales tax

 $0.00

3rd party payment processing fee

$3.97

Fulfillment labor & materials

$9.00

Total project cost

$303.83

Suggested donation to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

$66.69

Total project goal

$370.52

How we calculate what's needed

Total project goal

 $370.52

1 Donor

-$185.25

Donations toward project cost

-$151.91

Donations to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

-$33.34

match offer

-$185.27

Match offer toward project cost

-$151.92

Match offer to help DonorsChoose reach more classrooms

-$33.35

Still needed View calculationHide calculation

 $0.00

Our team works hard to negotiate the best pricing and selections available.

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As a teacher-founded nonprofit, we're trusted by thousands of teachers and supporters across the country. This classroom request for funding was created by Mr. Stevens and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.

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