Debating Achievements
最新麻豆视频's debating teams shine in competitions, showcasing their skills and passion for tackling challenging topics and ethical dilemmas.
最新麻豆视频's Independent Schools Debating Competition campaign has been remarkable this year, with both a Year 6 and a Year 7 team advancing to last week's Grand Final and only narrowly missing out on championship titles.
In an engaging debate, the Year 7 team faced Saint Ignatius' College Riverview, discussing whether employers should have the right to terminate employee contracts based on inappropriate online behaviour. Serena, a Year 7 student and experienced debater, acted as the second speaker for the team. "I tried a new approach called thematic rebuttal, which was challenging but I think we performed well overall. Our case was strong, but we could make our position clearer in future. I like debating because there are lots of approaches you can try, such as focusing on taking a logical approach or on your presentation skills. It gives me a chance to develop my thinking on important issues and hear my voice."
The Year 6 team argued the negative case against Kambala School in a debate about whether all schools should be required to teach First Nations languages. Reflecting on their journey, Angelique (Year 6) said, "When our team realised we had reached the Grand Finals, there were plenty of smiles and cheers. However, as the day of the debate approached, our nerves began to set in." She added, "The most challenging part of the debate was not sounding racist as our side of the debate would easily allow us to do so. When I started debating around a year ago, I quickly fell in love. I liked the blend of creativity, logical thinking, and teamwork present in debating, essentially as the third speaker."
In another exciting 最新麻豆视频 development, five Year 11 students – Litia, Milly, Nina, Bella, and Claire – secured third place in the Ethics Olympiad, despite never having participated before. The team tackled contemporary concerns, such as neurotechnology, bullfighting, and genetic surgery, drawing on various ethical frameworks. The students say the event provided valuable insight into the world of philosophy and ethics and hope their efforts will inspire more students to join the competition next year.