黎明基督教学院的特色之一是每年撰写和发表演讲. 演讲分为两步，写作阶段和公开演讲阶段. 韦伯斯特 defines an oratory this way:
口才:为了说服别人而讲得好或按照修辞规则说话的艺术. To constitute oratory, the speaking must be just and pertinent to the subject; it must be methodical, all parts of the discourse being disposed in due order and connection; and it must be embellished with the beauties of language and pronounced with eloquence. 演说术由四部分组成:发明、气质、演说和发音.
Before I began working at Dayspring four years ago, I was a Dayspring parent. 我的两个孩子从黎明基督教学院毕业，他们每个人都写了很多篇演讲. 两人都在比赛中继续前进，其中一人在黎明的年度爱国者庆祝晚宴上发表了讲话. 我非常熟悉校长演讲比赛带来的挑战和紧张的神经. When my son presented his oration in his 11th-grade year, I was so nervous for him that I could not finish my dinner. I vividly remember my daughter in the spring of her fourth-grade year, draped backward over the plaid ottoman in our family room, tears streaming, face red with frustration, declaring her eternal hatred of oration writing. At that moment, I shared her feelings completely. But, we got through it. We got through it every year, 一年比一年容易，他们的写作和口语质量也在提高. 好多了.
Fast forward eight years or so, and I’m sitting in that same family room, talking with my daughter on the phone. 她在大学的宿舍里，对着刚接到的作业咯咯地笑. “Mom,” she exclaimed. “We have to write a six-page paper and present it in front of the class. My classmates are freaking out! 我告诉他们，从二年级开始，我每年都要这样做，而且我刚刚在一组老师面前提交了一份20页的论文. This is nothin’!”
The oration process is challenging, but it is one of the hallmarks of the Principle Approach and an element that makes a Dayspring education distinct. 我开始欣赏演讲的过程，并在我自己的孩子和学生身上亲眼看到了成果. Challenges build character, 演讲的过程对孩子来说是一个很好的锻炼，可以拓展他的能力，克服恐惧和挫折.
黎明的演讲创始文件是这样描述演讲过程的目的的:
以便准备好为他心中的希望作出合理而崇高的辩护, each Dayspring student learns the art and science of oratory. 这就要求学生“把自己的每一个思想都俘虏起来顺服基督”,” expressing his position in written form, then presenting his well-reasoned 圣经 worldview 当着听众的面，让他的听众考虑改变观点, thereby reconciling them to God in fulfillment of The Great Commission (II Corinthians 10:5b; II Corinthians 5:20; Matt. 28:18-20).
The founding document goes on to describe the oration process:
Spring – The Writing Phase
- 演讲写作项目是英语课程的一部分，作为第三学期英语或文学(H.S.)年级.
- One aspect of the oration writing project relates directly to Bible class. Upon timely request by the English/Literature teachers, 圣经教师应该提供一到两节课，帮助每个学生从圣经的角度来看待他的演讲主题，帮助他识别支配和/或支持他的主题的圣经真理和原则. 这项工作和得出的结论应该作为第三学期圣经等级的一部分进行评估.
- 研究:所有学生的论点都应该得到通过研究获得的事实的支持, according to grade level expectations.
- Teachers will prepare students for the oration by reviewing its definition, 目的, sample readings, 等.
- 2 - 11年级的每位学生将根据英语老师设定的写作过程和截止日期提交最终版本的演讲. Students will follow MLA standards for both writing and citation.
- 长度:2-3级:书面演讲长度在100 - 150字之间. This will translate to approximately 2-3 分钟 of speaking time. Grades 4-5: Written orations should be between 200 and 500 words in length. This will translate to approximately 3-5 分钟 of speaking time. Grades 6-8: Written orations should be between 500 and 800 words in length. This will translate into approximately 5-7 分钟 of speaking time. Grades 9-11: Written orations should be between 600 and 1000 words in length. This will translate into approximately 6-8 分钟 of speaking time.
Fall – The Public Speaking Phase
- 教师将通过演示和练习来指导学生进行演讲(演讲)的艺术.
- 老师们将在九月中旬举行全体学生的课堂演讲. 在这个时候，学生的口头演讲将获得英语或文学的分数.
- 老师将决定哪些演讲(除了所有进入半决赛的演讲)将被包括在学校的年度出版物中, 遗留.
Headmaster’s Oration Presentation
目的:决定每区每年爱国者庆祝晚宴的演讲嘉宾;
- Division I – Grades 3-4
- Division II – Grades 5-6
- Division III – Grades 7-9
- Division IV – Grades 10-12
At the conclusion of the fall classroom oral presentations, 老师将从他的班级中挑选大约四名演讲者参加分组比赛，比赛将在教堂式的环境中举行. 所有年级的老师将在10月初的半决赛中担任评委.
每个赛区通常会有四名学生参加全校范围的比赛. All available faculty will judge in this finalist assembly in mid-October, 以便挑选学生在爱国者庆典上发表演讲, Remember America，及其他 Dayspring events.
演讲的过程是有形的成果，曙光的愿望教孩子们从圣经推理，并与他们所学到的风度和口才. 希望孩子们能从这个过程中获得知识和能力，使他们同意使徒彼得的劝告:“你们心里尊主基督为圣。, 有人问你们心里指望的缘由，就常常预备好，与他分诉, yet with gentleness and reverence.”