October 16, 2025
Lovers of learning and debate
Philomathean Society celebrates milestone birthdayby Jill Clerkin
This year marks the 200th anniversary of the Philomathean Society, the second-oldest secondary school debate union in the United States. “Philomathean” comes from the Greek word philomathēs, which means “a lover of learning.”
Philo club members meet weekly in Sam Phil. Newcomers follow a novice curriculum to learn the basic components of debate, while advanced debaters participate in practice rounds or drills.
“Philomaths approach debates not simply to get their point across, but as environments of discourse and understanding,” says Elise Zhang ’26, Philomathean Society co-president.
Club members typically take part in two DANEIS (Debating Association of New England Independent Schools) tournaments each term with club advisor Rabbi Josh Greenberg. Common adversaries include Choate, Deerfield, and of course our opponent to the North! Recent debate topics have included restorative justice, the commercialization of activism, and whether patriotism does more harm than good.
“Many Philo members hope to engage in discussions on a wide range of topics and to gain confidence in public speaking,” says Isabella Park ’26, Philo co-president. “It’s always exciting to see the community that forms throughout the year around our collective passion for discussion.”
Follow Philo on Instagram @andoverphilo
Were you a member of Philo? Email us at [email protected] and share your experiences. Your comments may be published in a future issue.
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