Under the guidance of teacher Beverly Woody, members of the Martinsville Middle School Debate & Speech Team will present and defend their choices of the most influential person in American history on Sunday, September 17, 2023, at 3:00 P.M., in the Courtroom of the Historic Henry County Courthouse.

This past spring, enthusiastic sixth graders engaged in a lively history debate at MMS, exploring the question of who the most influential person in American history is. Working in teams, the students researched different historical figures and presented arguments to support their choices. The debates were spirited as teams defended their selected individuals against opposing teams. As teams of history students debated, sixth grade English classes in the audience listened carefully, took notes, and made their own selections for the most influential figure from each debate. These cross-curricular projects are designed to synthesize a range of essential skills our students have built over the school year, including research, public speaking, and critical thinking at a higher level.

Woody serves as regent of the Patrick Henry Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution and on the Board of Directors of the Patrick County Historical Society & Museum and on the Board Development Committee of the Martinsville-Henry County Historical Society. She was named “Teacher of the Year 2023” by the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW). She stated in a previous article, “History is so much more than just remembering facts and dates. When we study our history, we build a connection between the past and the future.”

Admission to the Sunday Afternoon Lecture series is free, made possible by corporate sponsors, Carter Bank & Trust and The Lester Group. The Historic Henry County Courthouse is fully handicap accessible. The Martinsville-Henry County Heritage Center & Museum will be open following the presentation.