BALTIMORE — On Saturday morning in the halls of Frederick Douglass High School, there were echoes from one classroom that sounded like a U.S. diplomat negotiating for peace; and in another down the hall, a young voice arguing with the assertiveness of a lawyer. Inside the classrooms, however, there were no diplomats or lawyers but Evelynne Stiles and Shaneece Hemsley of Walbrook Uniformed Service Academy debate squad.

On Nov. 20, Hemsley and Stiles were 2 of the 230 students from 27 Baltimore City high chools that convened to participate in the third of seven Baltimore Urban Debate League tournaments at Frederick Douglass High School.

"Debate helps you express yourself when no one wants to listen," said Stiles, 17, a graduating senior and recipient of a Junior Varsity Speakers award. "I think it's important that we debate about peacekeeping around the world because we have to understand what's happening outside of the U.S. to understand what's going on here."

Debate, despite its denotation, is about much more than arguing with someone; it is about change and never being comfortable with the status quo. With debate occurring even as this is read -- in the United Nations, U.S. Senate and House of Representatives -- these students are learning and embodying what it takes to be world leaders.

"Debating makes you aware of what's going on in the world," said Danielle Keys, 14, Walbrook debate team. "It gives you a rush because it makes me feel powerful and, like, I'm in charge of my own destiny."

With students lugging around tubs of research material and books from classroom to classroom, the heated debates continued for more than eight hours. Students argued for plans that illustrated economic sovereignty for poor nations, U.S. relations with African countries, plans for the U.S. military exile from Iraq and how to avoid another war. At the end of these arguments, however, no one was punched, shot or stabbed, but embraced with respectful hand shakes and sometimes with hugs.

"I really give accolades to these young people who would take time on a Saturday," Euodis Parker, coach of the Dumbar High School debate team. "They've spent most of the day here debating. In Baltimore City Public Schools we have a lot of encouraging activities. It's not always about the basketball, sports all the time, and definitely not about the violence. Just something about academics is something we really need to focus on because this is the key to success."

Other than claiming No. 1 squad in Baltimore, students also won individual awards and medals. Among winners for the Varsity Speakers Award were Patrick Carter of Baltimore City College High, Tyrone Jackson of Mergenthaler Vocational Technical High, Eric Manns of Edmondson High, Dayvon Love of Forest Park High, Miraaj Abdal Rahim for Walbrook High, Autumn Capers of Southwestern High, and Nickolas Pilger for Carver High.

Among the Junior Varsity Speaker award recipients were Deverick Murray of Digital Harbor High School, Michael Dorsey of Mergenthaler, and Acacia Asbell of Frederick Douglass.

With every name called, the students responded, "woop," exhibiting the celebratory atmosphere of the BUDL tournaments.

"The tournament was, to me, a reflection of the progress that the league has generated," Chris Baron, BUDL director of programs and debate coach at Towson University. "The number of students and the number of schools participating has increased steadily at each tournament. It was nice that we had, at this tournament, lots of judges that came out. I think that indicates that there are more parents and teachers getting involved."

In an auditorium filled with students awaiting the results of the overall school and team debates, the emotions and adrenaline compelled them to rap on the back of the seats creating a thunderous stampede-like cadence.

As the sound died down, Baltimore City College was announced the third place winner out of 27 schools.

The anticipation mounted and the students once again made the auditorium rattle. Mergenthaler Vocational Technical High School claimed second place.

When the time came to announce the No. 1 team in Baltimore, there was almost absolute silence. "In first place, Walbrook Uniformed Service Academy."

"I'm estatic, but not surprised," said Shirley Cathrone, principal of Walbrook High. "This is an excellent group of students and it's but a few, that the media has allowed to represent us. We have a dynamic group of students. No principal could ask for a better group of students nor a better group of teachers!"

She says that Officer Angelo W. Brooks, Walbrook's debate coach has been "exceptional from day one of her arrival as principal and so have all the other officers. They hold the kids to high expectations. They attend every practice and every competition. And Officer Brooks is like a father to these kids."

Brooks, acting as though nothing happened, sat calmly with a smile as he watched 'his kids' celebrate -- emerging from the ashes in victory.

On Dec. 18, these 27 Baltimore City public high schools debate squads will gather again for BUDL Tournament No. 4, with Baltimore Catholic Forensic League at Towson University. For more information, call 410-704-2969 or log onto www.budl.org.