Students Prepare for Regional Debating Comp

Should mullets be banned in schools? This is the topic that 35 students fleshed out in a preliminary debating ‘rehearsal’ in preparation for the first round of the Regional Debating Competition.

Year 7 and 8 students from our site, as well as some from St. Joseph’s School and Navigator College, were privy to the expert training from Sonja Lowen, Charlotte Boyd-Turner and Ilya Aidman, who travelled across from Debating SA in Adelaide.

Students learnt the basics of debating, including a firm handshake (not like a ‘dead fish’), formal greeting (Madam/Mister Chairman), argument structure, as well as a host of tips for good public speaking. Choosing to be either first, second or third speaker, students were asked to plan a debate in either Affirmative or Negative for the statement: Mullets should be banned in schools.

The actual debate on this topic will occur on September 15th, as the first of three rounds. The Grand Final will play out in Adelaide in November.

We would like to thank Debating SA for taking the time to train our staff and students, and for creating this wonderful opportunity for our students to develop their skills in speaking, collaboration and topical issues.

~ Mrs. Holly Dufek (Organising Teacher)