http://www.washingtonpost.com/posteverything/wp/2014/10/04/we-should-be-teaching-kids-public-speaking-in-school/?hpid=z13

I feel very strongly about this issue as I personally gained a great deal from participating in public speaking activities in high school and college, including competitive debate and speaking, Model United Nations, and Mock Trial. Without the skills that learned and developed through these activities I can guarantee that I would never have pursued teaching or research in political science/international affairs nor would I be as capable an instructor as I currently am. Even if students do not participate in such activities, it is important that they be able to develop independent thoughts and arguments and to convey those thoughts verbally to others. Such skills are pivotal to nearly every career that a student is likely to pursue.