Debating Report

Round 3 of the Interschool Debating Competition was in full swing this week, featuring several “firsts”. Mr Gridley and the team headed to Avila College (not Wesley) on a Wednesday (not Thursday) for a range of Secret Topics (not prepared ones)!

All of our teams had one hour, with no teacher-assistance or technology, to prepare. Oakleigh Grammar took the affirmative side of the following topics:

Year 12: That for movies and TV shows, we prefer sequels to remakes
Year 11: That all sports people (including e-sports) should be paid the same, regardless of experience or skill
Year 10: That schools should only teach books and movies from the last 100 years
Year 9: That all commercial and company vehicles must be electric by 2030

This meant that many of our students had to debate AGAINST their real personal positions, which is difficult, but is exactly the experience that creates excellent debating skills.

The inevitable subjectivity of movie and TV tastes? Brownlow medallists on the same salary as new recruits? No more Shakespeare, Dickens, Darwin or the Bible in schools?! The practicality of policing the vehicle types (e.g. every food delivery driver)? This was going to take some arguing.

Unfortunately, and uncharacteristically, we lost more than we won in this round, with the senior school teams beaten by Caulfield Grammar and Huntingtower. The glory instead went to our Year 9 students, who won by a country mile over Caulfield Grammar. All students were impressive, but it was Alexandra, Tiffany and Eva who stole the show. Individually and as a coordinated unit, they set up a model for the electric cars initiative, and thematically dismantled all the rebuttals that came their way. Eva won a Best Speaker Award from the third speaker position.

Next round is June 17, when we must argue against pursuing life on Mars!

Leigh Gridley

Debating Coordinator