metro Changing Young Lives Longtime debate coach instills self-confidence — one student at a time. Allan P. Adler Special to the Jewish News T "Without him and debate, I believe I would be a different person." here's little argument that John Lawson has had a success- ful career as an educator and debate coach. Currently at Birmingham Groves High School in Beverly Hills, Lawson has coached eight Michigan varsity state championship teams, four junior varsity state championship squads and four novice state championship teams. In addition, he has a national champi- onship title for a team that competed in the National Catholic Forensics Contest in 1998. But even more impressive is the indelible mark he has left on his students. "I think that the lessons we learned from John and through debate and speech activities as students made us successful adults;' says Richard Elias, 50, of Bloomfield Hills, owner of Midas Food Company in Oak Park. "We learned to think critically, to work hard and to speak well in public:' Elias, who graduated from Southfield-Lathrup High in 1979, adds, "Lawson sets the standard for coach- ing and speech activity not only in Michigan but also around the country. He has a reputation for being the best:' Lawson, who turned 60 on March 31, has been a debate coach since he gradu- ated from the University of Michigan in 1975. He started debating as a junior at John Lawson coaches Detroit students in the art of debate. Southfield High School and continued in college on the U-M team. He taught at Southfield-Lathrup High School from father to her. this view. 1976-81 and also coached. "He taught me how to research argu- Jonathan Stivers, 39, lives in From 1981-85, Lawson, a member ments, debate in the proper format and Washington, D.C., and is a senior adviser of Temple Beth El in West Bloomfield, helped with speaking skills;' says Kirsch, for U.S. House Minority Leader Nancy strayed from education. He earned a law who plans to teach secondary history. "His Pelosi. Stivers, formerly of Beverly Hills, degree and practiced as an attorney for passion for debate absolutely spilled over has worked in the nation's capital for 16 a couple years. But the appeal of debate onto me, and without him and debate years — the past 13 years have been with was strong, and even as a lawyer, he I believe I would be a different person Pelosi and before that, with former Rep. worked as a coach. He started a program today:' David Bonior of Michigan. at Roeper High School in Bloomfield Hills She credits Lawson with inspiring her "Mr. Lawson was a major influence and coached in Redford Township, among to also be a debate coach. Her experience in my life and career; says Stivers, who includes coaching at Brother Rice High in other places. graduated in 1992. "My experience Birmingham and Lexington's high school. Because of his love for the activity and through debate was the key in my educa- the joy of working with students, it's no Lawson speaks with confidence when tional development. Mr. Lawson isn't just surprise he went back to teaching and he discusses his philosophy about debate. a teacher; he trains students to think criti- coaching full time. He taught at Southfield "I think students who learn the benefits of cally and develop problem-solving skills:' High School from 1985-89 and then debate are substantially ahead of many of Another Groves graduate who credits Lawson with helping his career is Daniel joined the Groves staff in 1989. their colleagues when they reach college Lawson never married but he certainly and in their professional careers;' he says. Warsh, 26, an attorney with the Madden Hauser Wartell Roth and Heller PC firm in has a large family through his students. In "They are great examples of leaders in Southfield. fact, Sara Kirsch, 23, a graduate student at politics, law and academia:' Brandeis University, says he was a second The success of his students supports "I had always known that I wanted to be 12 April 11 • 2013 an attorney," says Warsh, who was on the Groves debate team from 2000-2004. "But debate really crystallized my interest in litigation. Mr. Lawson helped me hone my oral advocacy, research and writing skills, and taught me several valuable techniques that I still use today:' While Lawson's career as a high school debate coach would be satisfying enough for most educators, he gives back to the community by sharing his skills with the Detroit Urban Debate League. Lawson has been on the board of directors since 2004 helping organize teams and operate the league, which is geared to low-income stu- dents and has been formed in a number of metropolitan areas throughout the nation. In the Detroit Metropolitan area, the league has established itself as a pri- vate, nonprofit entity, independent of the Detroit Public Schools. Because of similar demographics as Detroit, other