Respectful Voices. Stronger Communities
Middle school is where communication either gets stronger or falls apart. Teens face the pressure to have opinions—but no one teaches them how to defend those opinions without making an enemy out of whoever disagrees.
Debate Without Hate Teen Edition changes that. It trains middle schoolers in the skills that matter more than “being right”: clarity, composure, empathy, and the ability to stay in hard conversations.
What student learn to do
Articulate a position clearly—without needing volume or aggression to be heard
Listen to opposing views without immediately shutting them down
Manage the emotional heat that comes with genuine disagreement
Distinguish between attacking an idea and attacking a person
Recover from conflict without it permanently damaging a relationship
Build the kind of confidence that isn’t threatened by someone else’s different opinion
How it works
8 structured sessions, approximately 45 minutes each. Built around real discussion, roleplay scenarios, and reflection—not worksheets alone.
Designed to run in a classroom, advisory block, or after-school setting.
The 8 lessons
Lesson 1: Active Listening
Lesson 2: Disagree Respectfully
Lesson 3: Speak Up Calmly
Lesson 4: Asking Instead of Attacking
Lesson 5: Finding Common Ground
Lesson 6: Leading Calm Conversations
Lesson 7: Conflict Resolution Skills
Lesson 8: Bringing It All Together
What's included
Turnkey lesson plans — ready to teach, not just ready to adapt
Structured discussion frameworks — so debate doesn’t become chaos
Roleplay scenarios grounded in real teen conflict dynamics
Reflection prompts that build self-awareness alongside skill
Parent engagement resources to reinforce learning at home
Certificate of completion for every student
Download the full program prospectus for free.
What this means for your school
The problems that show up in your disciplinary referrals, your counselor’s office, and your parent complaint emails often trace back to the same root: students who don’t know how to disagree without it becoming a crisis.
Debate Without Hate Teen Edition is a front-end intervention. It builds the communication architecture that prevents conflict from escalating—and gives teachers a shared language to use when it does.
It’s SEL-aligned, anti-bullying compliant, and comes with full teacher onboarding. Optional ongoing coaching with program creator Robin Quinn Keehn is available for schools that want continued support.
For parents who want to see this in their school
Middle school is exactly when communication patterns solidify. The student who learns at 12 that they can hold a position without holding a grudge will carry that skill into high school, into relationships, and into work.
If you want to bring this to your school, download the prospectus and share it with your principal. It’s built for administrators—clear, evidence-aligned, and actionable.
Fall 2026 Pilot now underway
The Teen Edition is piloting this fall alongside the Kids Edition, with a second school currently in conversation. Schools that come in during the pilot phase receive direct access to Robin Keehn throughout implementation. If your school is ready to move quickly, reach out now.
Ready to bring Debate Without Hate to your school?
Download the prospectus or schedule a 20-minute call. No pressure. Just a conversation to see if it’s the right fit.
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About Us
People Skillz is a communication and leadership company founded by Robin Quinn Keehn and Nina Mercie, certified mediators and Human Dynamics Specialists. We help individuals, teams, and schools close what's unfinished and show up with clarity and courage in the conversations that matter most.
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