Before I started Green Elephant Books, I thought literacy was mostly about reading and writing well. I associated it with things such as essays, books, grammar, and vocabulary. And while those things are definitely part of literacy, I learned that the biggest improvements of literacy don’t just happen through books, but through classroom conversations. Speaking, listening, questioning, and responding to others pushed me to think more critically and communicate more clearly. In many ways, conversation taught me how to truly engage with ideas instead of just memorizing them.
One of the biggest ways debate and discussion improved my literacy was by forcing me to move beyond surface-level understanding. In my history class, debates often placed me in direct disagreements with my classmates. We would discuss historical topics that we learned in class and be sorted into groups and randomly be assigned different roles: Petitioner, Respondent, and Judge. During one debate on whether Andrew Carnegie was a good person, I strongly disagreed with my assigned position. I wanted to argue that Carnegie exploited workers, but I had to defend him. Instead of dismissing the opposing view, I listened closely to my classmates’ arguments and engaged by responding thoughtfully rather than reactively. I researched Carnegie’s philanthropic contributions to education and public libraries and its impact today. That process made me a stronger reader because I started paying more attention to tone, argument, evidence, and bias. I was no longer reading just to “get through” an assignment. I was reading in order to understand, question, and respond.
Debate especially helped me realize that literacy is deeply connected to power. The ability to express an idea clearly, support it with evidence, and persuade an audience is not just useful in school but also in everyday life. People who can communicate effectively are often the ones who shape conversations, influence policy, and advocate for change. That made me think differently about literacy as a social justice issue. If literacy includes the ability to analyze information, articulate ideas, and participate in civic discussion, then unequal access to those skills has serious consequences.
This is where public policy becomes important. Opportunities to build literacy through discussion and debate are not equally available in every school. Some students have access to strong humanities programs, student-led discussions, speech and debate clubs, and classrooms where critical thinking is encouraged. Others may attend underfunded schools with fewer resources, larger class sizes, and less room for open dialogue. If students are not given opportunities to practice speaking, listening, and argumentation, they may be less prepared to participate confidently in academic, professional, and civic spaces.
Looking back, debates and class conversations improved my literacy because they taught me that reading and writing are only part of the picture. True literacy also means being able to think critically, communicate clearly, and engage responsibly with the world around you. In a society shaped by public debate, media, and policy decisions, those skills matter far beyond the classroom. They are part of what allows people not just to consume information, but to use it to lead.
-Anna Lee