Debating

Update on all things debating and public speaking

Inter-school debating

This year our teams have been tapping on keyboards and tuning into zoom and webex and other platforms to debate online in the Debaters Association of Victoria (DAV) competition. We have already completed four rounds of debates and our teams (listed below) are rising to the challenges of the new format.

A grade (Year 12)  Greta Bush, Alice Brown, Louka Pocock, James Roseman Gannon

C grade (Year 10)  Zara Baglioni, Zac Warnest Knowles, James Pinder, Joel Taylor, Hugo Waples

D grade 1 (Year 9)  Daniel Feng, Walt Wilson, Lewis Bush

D grade 2 (Year 8)  Henry Phelan, Moses O’Carroll, Remy Caithness-Christoffelsz

Hugo Waples, Year 10 debater

“Online debating in 2020 has presented us with a new challenge, the whole experience is unusual. The system works pretty smoothly but I would rather do a live debate face-to-face. Also being online makes it easier to research. We can use zoom and facetime during the debate to communicate as a team without interrupting the opposition. On the other hand, if you have a problem with your connection, or if its running slow, or if there’s screen lag that is no fun!  Overall, I would say it’s easier doing debating online than classes online. It is hard not being able to ask for help when you're in class online.”

Joel Taylor, Year 10 debater

"Online debating has been a new experience for us all, and although it has been difficult, we have learned to make the most of it. Online debating has it’s limits, being that communication with your team is quite difficult, making collaborative rebuttal hard to do, as well as the issue of technical difficulties which can be frustrating. Despite the downsides to this new style of debating, I am glad that we can at least continue with debating in some form during this pandemic. We are very thankful to the DAV who have organised this competition and have worked hard to facilitate a competition regardless of the current circumstances."

Year 7 Debating

Meanwhile in Year 7 we have four teams who are also debating online. They have debated on a range of topics from limiting the number of cars per household to Australia doing more for refugees. The topic for round four (chosen by students) is that 'Snape is a truly evil character’.

Team one: Maya Healy, Finn Tweedie, Edie Simpson

Team two: Lily Sibillin, Annabelle Grage-Perry, Ella Taylor, Elena Cooke

Team three: Lachlan George, Elliott Loveday, Esther Maticevski-Shumack, Madeleine Doughty

Team four: Madeline Newall, Jorja Nunn, Ned Partridge, Joey Alam

Year 6 Public Speaking

There are now seven schools participating in our annual competition and at this stage we will run the competition online. The topic is ‘What cows think about’. We are looking forward to hearing some creative and compelling responses from year 6 students at the participating primary schools, Northcote; North Fitzroy; Fairfield; Alphington; Bell; Carlton North; and Merri Creek.