The Socratic Club - 2nd March 2025

It was great to hear such impressive argumentation from both Junior and Senior groups, not least given the fast paced nature of news and events at present. 

Our skills focus took in active listening and rebuttal. Well done all for implementing these so comprehensively during our meetings. 

We began with an extensive newsround, taking in:

• St David's Day 

• Shrove Tuesday/Pancake Day 

• The War in Ukraine 

• The German election

• The Royal Tomb discovery in Egypt

• Global Recycling Day

Our debating topics took in the motions/questions:

• Should the UK follow Denmark in a ban on phones in school? (overwhelmingly supported at both tellings)

• Should Defence spending be paid for by Aid cuts?

• Should world leaders have arguments in public or behind closed doors?

• Are cartoons good for learning?

• 'This house believes working from home is better than working in the office'

It was super to hear the groups reflect on hard power and soft power, the nuance in technological advantages and disadvantages with phones and the marketing/commercialization of national days.  

Voting also moved considerably in many of the debates - showing plenty of active listening and consideration of points made more widely in the groups. 

In unseen work we also looked at Alexander Graham Bell (born 3 March 1847) and early telephone inventions, along with a post coronation painting of Queen Victoria. 

Very well done all!