Debating

The third debate of 2016 was another successful evening for St Albans Secondary College. It was  very challenging for our two year ten teams and our year twelve team as it was the secret topic round. Basically students are presented with the debate topic one hour before the debate begins and then they must prepare their speeches without the help of teachers and they have no access to the internet.

The Year 12 topic was quite difficult, it was ‘That commercial television stations should no longer be required to broadcast Australian content’. Joskun Celebioglu, Hiba Cuttlerywala and Czarina Estores debated in the affirmative against Princes Hill Secondary College and they won the debate by one point. Joskun was awarded best speaker.

The Year ten topic was, ‘That we should abolish all forms of imprisonment for people under the age of 18’. Both of the year ten teams argued in the affirmative for this debate. Phung Tran, Shani Nguyen and Lani Nguyen debated against Glenroy College and they won the debate by four points. Shani was awarded best speaker. Melissa Nguyen, Janaki Kharel and Gabriel Chan debated against Sirius College Eastmeadows and they narrowly lost the debate.

The topic for the D grade debate was, ‘That we should use prison labour for public works’ and both teams argued in the affirmative. The year 8 team, Katarina Cicarevic, Dea Vidovic and Katheryn Chen debated against Strathmore Secondary and they lost the debate by only one point. The year 9 team won their debate due to a forfeit, however Oli Hakai Lavea, Salma Jamal and Chelsea Tran were given the opportunity to debate against the adjudicator and they did a fantastic job. The feedback they received was outstanding as the adjudicator commented that she was very impressed with their arguments and in particular their ability to rebut her arguments.

Thank you to Ms Avril Good, Mr William Rowland and Ms Lorie Miller for coaching and supporting students and a special thankyou to Ms Peta Burgess for helping out with transport to the debate.

Ms Nicole Carbonaro

Debating Coordinator

Left to right

Back row: Oli Hakai Lavea, Chelsea Tran and Salma Jamal (Year 9)

Front Row: Katerina Cicarevic, Kathryn Chen and Dea Vidovic (Year 8)

Left to right

Joskin Celebioglu, Hiba Cuttlerywala and Czarina Estores (Year 12)