HKHS Debating NEWS
Henry Kendall High School
The Years 7 and 8 debaters had their turn as they competed in the first round of the Premier's Debating Challenge on Tuesday 1 June. The topic for the debate was "That Years 7 and 8 students should learn self-defence at school". While our team argued well for the mental health and fitness benefits of self-defence classes, the opposing team from Kariong Mountains High School was ultimately more successful in suggesting that this may actually cause more harm than good.
A huge congratulations to the three members of our team, including Courtney Cottle of Year 8, Melody Wagenaer and Elise Bell of Year 7. The adjudicator was generous in her advice at the conclusion of the debate, and we look forward to putting this into practice in the next round.
The Year 9 & 10 Debating Team had a fantastic win in their debate against Gosford High School on Thursday 3 June. The topic was "That we should have a compulsory politics class for high school students" and our team argued for the negative. While the students at Gosford highlighted some of the societal benefits of politics in schools, our team did a magnificent job of highlighting the potential problems including government corruption, impressionable young people, and problematic parental involvement.
The adjudicator commented on how articulate our students were, and how well they worked as a team in producing a consistent line of argument. Yet again, Amelia Stevens was a standout, and I am particularly proud of Hayden Starr and Mason Bruinning who swapped speaking roles and made exponential improvements. A huge congratulations to all of the students.
Congratulations - another great result Year 9 & 10 Debating Team!
Our Year 9 & 10 debaters continued their winning form on Monday 7 June 2021, with another excellent performance, this time against Kariong Mountains High School. The debate was a tough one, with our team arguing against the idea "that vaccinations for Olympic athletes should be prioritised over ordinary citizens". The Henry Kendall High School students won the debate by focusing on the importance of all citizens and not just the select few, and by utilising their extensive knowledge of current events to support their case.
A special mention to Mason Bruinning and his debate-winning summation at third speaker. Today's result puts the team in a good position to make the knock-out stage, and we eagerly await results from other schools. A big congratulations to Hayden, Amelia, Mason and Emily for their sportsmanship and expertise.
Ms Katrina Conroy
Debating Coordinator