Aspire Higher
Debating News, 26 August 2005
Both First and Second Grade GPS debating teams remain undefeated in the GPS competition after five of seven rounds. St Ignatius College is the only other team undefeated in First and Second Grade and we have to wait until round 7 to meet them. This week we face Shore at home. The topic area is business. All students are invited to attend these debates which commence at 20:00.
GPS Debating Round 3 - SHS vs Newington
Topic Area - Current Events
This week was the first of three current events topics, which had many of their boys and their coaches slightly nervous about the topic! The intermediate topic That the Indonesian President should pardon Schapelle Corby was plagued by the obvious definitional problems as boys set out to argue that pardon would or could involve having her re-tried in Australia. It wasn't a particularly good week for the Year 8-10 teams with only the 10Bs and 8Bs winning - both negated.
The seniors were victorious in First and Second grade, debating That David Hicks should be tried by a military tribunal. Firsts proposed a model that was a modification of the current Military Commission that exists and argued that military crimes could only be effectively and appropriately dealt with by the military. Newington College as the negative curiously proposed a model in which David Hicks would be tried by The International Criminal Court (ICC). This model fell over after some solid rebuttal and the decision went to High on our first spilt decision of the season.
A big thank you to the contingent of Year 7 parents and students who stayed to watch the seniors. It is very much appreciated by the debaters, as having an audience is very important for engagement and delivering the argument to real people is much more satisfying than talking to a wall or empty auditorium!
GPS Debating Round - SHS vs SCOTS
Topic Area - Education
All three senior teams won That the Australian Government should introduce optional membership of university student organisations. A very poignant topic given the current proposed changes to Student Union membership and the fact that A National Day of Action was held by students all over Australia just two days before to protest the federal government's changes.
Firsts negated the topic and their win was by a small margin relative to some of their previous victories. The debate centred around freedom of choice, market imperatives and the free-rider concept. The boys presented clear rational and logical rebuttals.
Congratulations to the boys - all teams, bar two, won this week - with the 10Bs experiencing their first defeat of the whole season. The intermediate topic was That out-of-school tutoring is good for school students - another very interesting and apt topic for our students.
A very good effort from the Year 7 teams who made a clean sweep. They are proving that time spent effectively prepping with their team is paying off handsomely.
GPS Debating Round 5 - SHS vs Sydney Grammar
Topic Area - Current Affairs
No surprises with the senior topic this week That the Australian
Government should fully privatise Telstra given the amount of coverage in
the news that the proposed sale had been given.
Sriram Srikumar stepped up into first grade this week to replace a very ill Tom Kaldor. Congratulations to him on a great effort and seamless entry into first grade. Given that it was also the middle of the HSC Trials, the boys pulled together well to keep Grammar at bay. Meanwhile Tom Morgan stepped up into seconds and they pulled off affirming the topic.
Most of the intermediate teams performed strongly That government control of the Senate is good for Australia with only the 9Bs being defeated.
Special mention here should go to the 8Bs who remain undefeated this season - well done.
Unfortunately all three Year 7 teams lost to a more well prepared Grammar contingent.
Debating Dinner
A reminder that payment for the Debating Dinner is now overdue. Contributions for your coach's gift are also now due. Please make sure payments are made to the office.
More information about debating can be found at:
http://www.sydneyhigh.org.au/debating.
The results table can be found at:
http://www.sydneyhigh.org.au/debating/results.shtml.
If you would like to receive the regular email updates on debating at Sydney High please send an email with "SUBSCRIBE" in the title to sbhsdebating@gmail.com.
Anyone who is not receiving emails about debating and would like to, please send an email with your name and year to sbhsdebating@gmail.com.
Jocelyn Brewer
MIC Debating
COMING EVENTS
The first school listed is the host school.
Friday 23 July 2010
GPS Round 1
Shore vs SBHS
Friday 30 July 2010
GPS Round 2
SBHS vs St Joseph's College
Friday 6 August 2010
GPS Round 3
The Scots College vs SBHS
Friday 13 August 2010
GPS Round 4
SBHS vs St Ignatius College
Friday 20 August 2010
GPS Round 5
Sydney Grammar vs SBHS
Friday 27 August 2010
GPS Round 6
SBHS vs Newington College
Friday 3 September 2010
GPS Round 7
SBHS vs The Kings School
