This was another very impressive session with our St Philip's debating and interview club.
Our skills of the week looked at how to tackle/manage public speaking nerves and how best to use Points of Information - a really important skill for debating competitions.
For our warm-up question we asked (with 'Why'/justification absolutely crucial):
(i) What is your favourite hobby?
This took in reading, travel, chess, musical instruments, painting, riding, rugby, football and swimming amongst other pursuits.
We then turned to a Newsround focussing on:
The US Presidential Election
Another assassination attempt on Donald Trump
Keir Starmer's US and Italian visits
The War in Ukraine
Floods in Eastern Europe
A ban on mobile phones in school following a recent decision by one of England's largest academy trusts
Our central debate covered the motion:
(i) 'This House would ban junk food online advertising and television advertising (before 9pm)'
- here we saw an excellent debate with finance and practicality battling against the importance of health for children and the nation as a whole. The questions of a 'nanny state'/freedom of choice, and the actual impact of ban were explored as well as managing expectations for children and parents. The group remained split throughout the debate in voting, with a small swing against the motion at the second telling, with jobs and practical implementation holding sway.
Well done all.
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