The National Junior Forensic League (NJFL) gives youth a voice by offering middle level students motivation to participate in speaking activities. The NJFL’s parent organization, the National Forensic League, has resolved to rededicate its efforts to fostering middle level involvement in forensics, because it is a critical age for reaching young adolescents and building their skills for expression. To that end, we hope you will join the NJFL and make use of our myriad resources.
NJFL offers added value for student scholarship:
- A national honorary society for middle level speakers; and
- Rewarding students for co-curricular speaking in contests/festivals, as well for classroom presentations, motivating students to improve their speaking skills; and
- A merit point system, with graduated degrees that motivate students to participate more, are convertible to NFL high school points as part of the student’s permanent record of participation (one-tenth of the student’s NJFL points, up to 150, are transferable); and
- Several studies show a compelling connection between student participation in speaking activities and higher achievement on standardized tests.
NJFL offers added value for educators:
- Free teaching video tapes (see enclosed list from the National Forensic Library); and
- Regular newsletters, tailored specifically for middle level speech and debate news and education; and
- Monthly magazine, the Rostrum, which features teaching and learning articles; and
- Access to video, audio and print resources and other merchandise; and
- Web site.
Joining and tracking student participation is easy:
- Complete the application for school membership.
- Throughout the year, you can enroll individual students at $5/each, which covers membership throughout their middle school tenure. A certificate is prepared by a calligrapher and mailed to the school.
- You can report student points on a revolving basis. Coaches receive one-tenth of their students' points earned.
- 2 points for every type of speech that is memorized.
- 1 point is received for all the other types of speaking like book reports, morning announcements, school assembly type programs, etc. Types of events covered are: speeches given in class, speech and debate tournaments attended, church readings, etc.
- 10% of NJFL points (maximum 15 points) may be transferred toward NFL membership when students enter high school.
NJFL's programs are sanctioned by the National Committee on Contests and Activities of the NASSP and placed upon the National Advisory List of Contests and Activities for 2009-2010.
The NJFL National Tournament was held June 24-27, 2010 in Des Moines, Iowa. If you pay your NJFL membership dues, the fees for the national tournament will be reduced by that amount.
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