We had an excellent first session of this academic year with our St Philip’s debating and interview club. It was very good to catch up with old faces and meet new people too.
Having introduced and reviewed debating structure our skill of the week focussed on how to build proposition arguments and the best use of body language during a debate or interview setting. We are looking at achieving detailed Proposition arguments of several points this term – supported by evidence, stories and rhetorical questions.
For warm-up questions we looked at two questions (with 'Why'/justification absolutely crucial):
(i) What was the Highlight from your holidays? &
(ii) What are your goals for the new academic year?
From holidays abroad to cultural visits, sporting adventure and family & friends time, it was great to hear an array of highlights all with good justification – 'because' – the key word.
Goals for the term included more focus in school time, exam and school success, music grades, language progress and sporting ambition.
Our Newsround (and we encourage the group to be as aware of news and the world around them as possible, e.g. First News, Newsround, The Week Junior) took in:
The US Presidential Election
Kamala Harris
Keir Starmer & Rachel Reeves
The Olympics & Paralympics
Technological innovation
The International Space Station
The War in Ukraine
Conflict in the Middle East
A smoking ban for public outdoor spaces
Our debates covered the motions:
(i) Should the Olympic Rings stay on the Eiffel Tower?; & Should the Mayor of Paris need to consult her constituents?
- the group voted unanimously for their removal but for wider consultation. This was seen as an historic monument, whilst also recognising that Paris does not have total claim to the Olympics as it moves around per city/venue.
(ii) Are there too many exams? (following a BBC/OCR article/review)
- this was more split, but with a sizeable section of the group looking for more 'balance'; and finally
(iii) This House believes we still need coins? & Will the coinage help raise awareness for endangered UK wildlife?
- many felt the age of the coin was going, but for now was still needed and it would help raise some awareness, along with helping children learn to count and understand money.
A great start to the term - well done all!
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