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St Philip's School - 14th & 21st January 2025

Dr George Gross

Updated: Jan 24




We have had a great start to 2025 with our St Philip's School Debating and Interview club.

Excellent to see old and new faces in this impressive group. 


On skills we have worked on body language for discussions and argumentation, as well as persuasive language and POIs.


Newsrounds have included a review of the devastating fires in LA, AI and Fake news, the ban of TikTok in the US, Storms in the US and UK, the resignation of Justin Trudeau in Canada, the talk of a sale of Greenland, the passing of former President Jimmy Carter, and the Presidential Inauguration of Donald Trump and his Vice President JD Vance, as well as the executive orders carried out. 


We have also looked at what words the groups thought embodied leadership, a selection including:


Integrity, Kind, Tough, Generous, Polite, Supportive, Confident, Inspirational, Brave, and Determined. 


Warm-up questions have reflected on holidays as well as New Year’s Resolutions, with various suggestions from taking up new sports, reading more, languages and hobbies, to greater work focus or time-management. In addition we asked the group for their 'favourite words and why?' as well as 'if they could meet any fictional character from the history of fiction?' 

From the world of Detective Fiction to James Bond, we saw a tremendous array of remarkable literary characters presented. 


We also looked at what the group felt had been the greatest technological invention of all time? Ideas included Fire, Electricity, the first Space Landing, to the Industrial Revolution, Agricultural Revolution and Flying. 


Debates have taken in motions on a sale/purchase of Greenland, and inspired by the harrowing stories and scenes of the LA fires, a debate on climate change and whether we should act now? Or, if the focus should be Bezos/Musk style on Planet B and space? and finally 'This House would study the oceans first before we invest in space research?'


On a philosophical note, we also asked the group if 'we felt less happy in an age of technology?' 

This saw a fascinating discussion, with points for and against technology from social media to wider communication. 


Well done all on a tremendous start to 2025!

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