Stoa Transparent Tabulation Policy

I. Tournament Tabulation Guiding Principles

Stoa leadership believes that policies ought rightly to flow from biblical principles. Admittedly, there is no reference in Scripture to the tabulation of Speech and Debate tournaments. However, there are biblical principles that can guide Stoa tabulation behavior.

Scripture generally speaks with condemnation of that which is done in secret. God knows the natural tendency of our sin nature to hide the secret errors of our ways. To combat this natural tendency, Scripture promotes the concept of presenting ourselves before witnesses through confession, openness, and accountability as a means of insuring honesty and integrity.

The following Scriptures illustrate the Biblical norm. This is not a comprehensive list of verses on the subject, but it is a good representation.

“I have spoken openly to the world,” Jesus replied. “I always taught in synagogues or at the temple, where all the Jews come together. I said nothing in secret.”

"Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but whoever takes crooked paths will be found out."

"The integrity of the upright guides them, but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity."

"Whoever conceals their sins does not prosper, but the one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy."

"Would it turn out well if he examined you? Could you deceive him as you might deceive a mortal? He would surely call you to account if you secretly showed partiality."

"'He said to them, “Do you bring in a lamp to put it under a bowl or a bed? Instead, don’t you put it on its stand? For whatever is hidden is meant to be disclosed, and whatever is concealed is meant to be brought out into the open. If anyone has ears to hear, let them hear.'”

"Now this is our boast: Our conscience testifies that we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially in our relations with you, with integrity and godly sincerity. We have done so, relying not on worldly wisdom but on God’s grace."

"Therefore, since through God’s mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart. Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God."

Stoa leadership is accountable to the members of Stoa and Stoa members have a vote on the important decisions of Stoa. To maintain this consistent model, Stoa Tabulation Processes are accountable to the members of Stoa. Without such an approach, there can be no true accountability.

II. A Biblical Approach to Tournament Tabulation

Stoa Tabulation Rooms will operate with the utmost integrity to serve member families and bring glory to God through that service.

Biblical accountability should be a hallmark of all Stoa tournaments and the tabulation of those events.

All Tabulation Rooms should seek to be above reproach in all their activities.

A. Before the Tournament

B. During the Tournament

The tabulation staff will do its best to answer all questions from tournament attendees about tournament tabulation processes. Pre-tournament posting of the tab process should decrease the number of questions. Tournament attendees may not request results during the tournament, just information about the process being used to determine the results.

C. Dealing with Tabulation Errors and Mistakes

All those serving in Tournament Tabulation are acknowledged volunteers doing their best to insure the accuracy of results. It is possible that an occasional tabulation error may occur. The Tabulation staff should not conceal these errors, but learn from them in an effort to improve the Tab process. Any errors will be dealt with openly and honestly and every effort will be made to correct the error. Members must acknowledge that this could benefit some students and produce less desirable effects for other students. The goal is to insure the best and most accurate results possible. All affected parties should be given full disclosure to the process in order to be assured that the process has proceeded with integrity.

D. After the Tournament

1. Tournament Tabulation information (debate cumes and tab files) will be available to all interested parties upon request.

2. All Stoa tournament results will be posted to the National Christian Homeschool Speech and Debate Rankings website (www.speechranks.com)

a) The Speechranks site shows the top 85% of students at each tournament. (The lower 15% are hidden out of consideration for those that did not perform as well as they might have hoped.)

b) It is to the student's advantage for every student in each event to be given a specific place of finish. The student's cumulative scores and national rankings will benefit. (Speechranks will still accept information from tournaments where all students do not have an assigned place of finish.)

E. Dispute Resolution

All parties to tabulation disputes will follow the guidelines of the Peacemaker Pledge that accompanied registration with Stoa. Any non-Stoa members involved will be expected to abide by the same Pledge. (http://www.peacemaker.net/site/c.aqKFLTOBIpH/b.958159/k.A440/Peacemakers_Pledge.htm)

• Tournament Tabulation Help Files
• Stoa provides a plethora of files and manuals designed to help you with your tournament.
• There is a Stoa specific Joy of Tournaments manual (with an updated version in the works), logistic information to help get your Tab room ready, ballot color spreadsheets, room and ballot estimators, club codes and more!