Valley City (CSi)  Public speaking is a new class offered at Valley City High School this fall. It is currently being offered as a dual credit option through Valley City State University. Nearly forty seniors are enrolled, and they are hard at work on informative speeches that tie to the history of Barnes County. VCHS has partnered with the Barnes County Museum to help students dig into primary and secondary sources, structure speeches, and present them in front of a crowd.

Some of the speeches students are working on include changes in dental care over time, one-room schoolhouses, soda fountains and drug stores, developments in funeral service care, the history of the player piano, the role of women in WWII, and local African American history, to name a few. Each student is pursuing a unique and self-chosen topic.

Students will be presenting their local history speeches at the Barnes County Museum during their English class periods over a span of four days: October 14, 16, 21, and 25 at either 8:40 or 12:55. The public is invited to stop by at any time to learn more about our city and county