Pedagogy and Academics

A Case for Debating (and beyond)

Our Senior A Debating team has given us plenty to celebrate over the past few weeks, securing impressive wins in their last two debates against boys’ schools and earning their place in the grand final this Sunday at Parliament House.

Their topics have been anything but simple. Last week, the team argued that the second Trump presidency has been in the interests of the Chinese Communist Party. In the semi-final, they tackled the provocative question of whether, as a feminist movement, we should view members of the manosphere as victims rather than ideological opponents. In both debates, our girls demonstrated an impressive capacity to grapple with complex ideas, construct compelling arguments and respond confidently under pressure.

Across the season, our Loreto girls have been eloquent, yes, but equally firm and grounded in their speeches. There have been moments when they have been underestimated by opponents, when their mild, gentle demeanours might suggest anything but the fiery, intelligent minds we know from the classroom. Time and again, they have stepped up and reminded us just how formidable they can be when given the opportunity to use their voices.

Debating is not for the faint-hearted, but it is an extraordinary asset for our young women. It requires them to think deeply, stay open to ideas they may not initially agree with, and find the confidence to respond with authority – or disagree respectfully – when challenged. When we talk about the kind of strong, confident and passionate young women we want our graduates to become, debating is a solid rehearsal.

We are immensely proud of all our debaters and wish our Senior A team every success at Parliament House on Sunday.

I would love to see more of our girls engage in this important cocurricular, so please encourage your daughters to give debating a go. There is plenty of room for strong opinions beyond the dinner table.

Mel Pedavoli

Assistant Principal: Pedagogy and Academic Leadership