Scotch College

Scotch College: Great Scot: Inter-school debaters do well

Inter-school debaters do well

Inter-school debating is a voluntary activity for students from Years 9 to 12. It takes place at night and demands commitment, organisation and self-discipline from its participants.

Team preparation is done at lunchtimes and in the students' own time. Individuals need to keep up with current affairs and have a good general knowledge.

The Debaters Association of Victoria Schools Competition this year involved 194 schools with 1071 teams competing in 16 regions. Approximately 70 Scotch boys debated in one of the 11 teams.

The top teams in three of the four grades qualified for the finals. Valuable experience was gained, and twenty one individual boys were awarded best speaker. Adam Sher (B grade), and Maun Suang Boey ( A grade), were judged best speakers in their respective grades in the Ruyton region.

There is always an element of luck in debating, and it was in a split decision that the B1s lost their quarter final and the A1s lost their semi-final.

Finishing in the top few schools in the state is quite an achievement, particularly given the size of the competition. Scotch debaters have clearly demonstrated that they are amongst the most successful in Victoria. Debating is a challenging activity. Its participants risk themselves in front of their peers, parents, teachers and adjudicators. They gain valuable experience in logical thinking, effective listening and oral communication.