What Is STOA?
STOA (School Tournament of Oratory Association) is a national Christian homeschool speech and debate organization. It provides a competitive framework for students to develop communication skills in a values-aligned environment.
STOA is not just an extracurricular - it is rhetoric in action. Everything students learn in the classroom about logic, argumentation, and persuasion gets tested in real-time competition.
What Students Do
STOA offers multiple event categories:
- Lincoln-Douglas debate - one-on-one values-based debate
Students compete at local, regional, and national tournaments. Even students who are initially nervous about public speaking develop remarkable confidence through practice and competition.
Why It Matters
Colleges notice speech and debate experience. Admissions officers see students who can articulate their ideas, think under pressure, and engage respectfully with opposing viewpoints.
Beyond college, these skills serve students for life - in careers, relationships, civic engagement, and defending their faith. STOA students learn to be persuasive without being combative, confident without being arrogant.
Frequently Asked Questions
STOA is available to upper school students. Contact us for specific grade requirements and how to get involved.
Contact us for details on STOA participation expectations at Saints Classical.
STOA involves preparation time for events and attendance at tournaments (typically on weekends). The tutorial model provides flexibility on off-days for research and practice.
Often the shy students benefit most. STOA provides a structured, supportive environment to develop confidence gradually. Many students who start nervous become some of the strongest competitors.
Stoa USA is a Christian homeschool and private school speech and debate league that provides competitive opportunities in parliamentary debate, Lincoln-Douglas debate, apologetics, original oratory, impromptu speaking, and more. At Saints Classical Academy, speech and debate through Stoa is a key part of the rhetoric stage, giving students real-world practice in articulating and defending ideas under pressure.
Yes. Saints Classical Academy in Spring Hill, TN participates in Stoa speech and debate, which is the largest Christian speech and debate league in the country. Students compete in regional and national tournaments in events including parliamentary debate, Lincoln-Douglas debate, apologetics, and various speech categories. This program builds confidence, critical thinking, and communication skills.