Interschool Debating
Vermont Secondary College has one Year 8 team participating in the Interschool Debating Competition for the first time in 2007 and with only two weeks to prepare for the first round. The Interschool Debating Competition is run by DAV (the Debaters’ Association of Victoria). There are7 members and the students take turns debating in different rounds. The students have gone very well this year and not bad for people who have never debated in public before.
Our first competition from Michelle K, Joseph T and Daniel O (best speaker) won their first debate; "the price of water shoudl increase" against a Year 9 team at Yarra Valley Grammar on 20/3/2007.
Abby G (best speaker), Jackson L and Richard V won the second round against the same team from Yarra Valley Grammar on 1/5/2007 on the topic “examinations in schools should be banned".
A third sensational win by our brilliant debaters; Joseph T, Daniel O (best speaker again), and James A against Oxley College on the topic of “that the Victorian Government should not fund major sporting events” on 15/5/2007.
On Thursday 24 May 2007, VSC hosted the National Schools Debating Championships. The participants had got through their regional and state finals to be able to compete against other states. Each year, the Championships are held in a different capital city so it will be another 8 years until it is held in Melbourne.
Many of our students watched some extremely high level speaking. The topic was very difficult (“that Muslim extremists should be gagged”) and the students only had 45 minutes to prepare 8 minute speeches. It was a great opportunity for our students to see such confident, articulate secondary school students.
Some members of the debating team went to the University of Melbourne to watch the Grand Final on Saturday 26 May 2007. Again, Victoria competed against WA and won! So now a team will go on to the International Schools Debating Championships in Korea.
On Monday 18 June 2007, our Year 8 debaters won again! This time against Mt Lilydale Mercy College on the topic "the sale of furs should be banned" and our speakers were Abbi G (Best Speaker), Richard V and Joseph T.
After 4 fantastic wins, our Year 8 debaters have finished the season, losing in our last debate to Croydon Secondary College, on Tuesday 6 August 2007. The topic was "that we should have mandatory sentencing for people who lit bushfires". The students were commended for their excellent public speaking skills. For first time debaters, these students have done so well this year, in working hard on researching difficult topics, developing confidence in delivering arguments and in giving up their time. They have been a great team. Congratulations to Abbie G, Daniel O, Joseph T, Jackson L, James A, Richard V and Michelle K.
Ms McIntyre
Debating Coach