High schools in District 202 to host first-ever Battle of the Books

The inaugural Battle of the Books competition for high schools in District 202 is set to take place on March 26, 2025, at Plainfield High School-Central Campus. The event will feature teams from the district's four high schools competing by answering questions about five Abraham Lincoln Award-nominated books.

Lisa Marcum, the District 202 Lead Media Specialist and media specialist at PHSCC, initiated a pilot of this competition last year with participation from 115 students forming 26 teams. Marcum noted that "freshmen come to high school and are disappointed there is no Battle of the Books competition," emphasizing the desire to "continue the love of reading from middle school."

This competition provides an opportunity for students to excel outside traditional sports arenas. Schools such as Plainfield South, Plainfield North, and Plainfield East will each send two teams to compete in the finals at PHSCC. The selection process involved approximately 75 teams across all four high schools.

District 202 middle school media center specialists played a crucial role in establishing this high school version of the competition. Aggie Ferris, a media specialist at Indian Trail Middle School, highlighted the importance of maintaining interest in reading beyond elementary and middle school levels. Ferris remarked on how early education focuses on engaging narratives but shifts towards informative texts in high school.

Marcum believes that introducing a high school-level Battle of the Books can help rekindle students' enthusiasm for reading and libraries. The support from organizations like the Plainfield Area Public Library and contributions from Tracey Vittorio, Teen Services Supervisor, were also key to launching this initiative.