Monday, 29 September 2008
Battle of the games consoles.
Join us tomorrow (Tuesday 30th September) as our debating calender takes on a more lighthearted note. Sahan Bentotage and ICYD finalist David Larke will be speaking in favour of the motion 'This Hosue believes that the Nintendo Wii is superior to the X-Box'. Speaking in opposition will be Luke Bendall and Willem Evans. Expect some fun and games (hahaha, aren't I witty) tomorrow as we take on a less philosophical nevertheless equally important issue.
Saturday, 27 September 2008
NJDC 2008: an absolute triumph
T
oday was an important day for Society members. We were represented at the Northern Junior Debating Championship (NJDC), which is the fourth competition we have entered in the two years since the Union Society was formed. Two teams were entered, comprising James Bartle MYP and Saskia Neibig; and Sam Hunt and Ghazaleh Mohammadi-Zaniani respectively.
Both teams performed magnificently. James and Saskia are competition veterans but had not been on the same team even at Society meetings until Tuesday’s practice round. They proved to be a winning combination, their different styles complimenting each other beautifully. Of 56 teams competing at the NJDC, they came in 11th place. James was awarded with a certificate, having received the sixth highest amount of speaker points of an incredible 112 students. Saskia finished in a fabulous 22nd place.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the spectrum, Sam and Ghazaleh had never participated in external debates. Ghazaleh had in fact only debated twice before today! They decided to enter the NJDC after being left gasping for more following the Society trip to Oxford for the ICYD finals in May. Considering their novicehood, their 21st position is absolutely fantastic. Ghazaleh finished in 19th place, while Sam was in 50th. These are both superb positions.
The first motion the teams had to face was ‘This House would pay pregnant women to stop smoking’. The debaters had practised this on Tuesday at Heaton Manor, so were well-prepared. However, they were not expecting to be drawn in the same debate, against one another. James and Saskia opposed the motion with a pair from Tunbridge Wells Girls’ Gramm
ar School, whilst Sam and Ghaz proposed with a team from the Grammar School at Leeds. James began by outlining the practical implications of the scheme (research prompted by the Floor question by Chris Redfearn on Tuesday) and attacking the cost. Saskia went on to demonstrate that the programme would be blatant nanny stateism, discrimination and a massive gamble.
Ghazaleh and Sam argued that the cost will be recovered in the long term, that the scheme would reach the right people, and that it would break the cycle of dependence. Sam was left with the job of summarising the Proposition’s case. James and Saskia came first in this debate, whilst Sam and Ghazaleh followed in second. Tunbridge Wells came third; Leeds Grammar fourth. This was a massive boost to the debaters’ collective confidence, and a smashing result.
The second of the day’s debates was ‘This House would prevent employers from requesting the criminal records of potential employees except where they would be working with vulnerable groups’, a motion released only fifteen minutes prior to the start of the debate. James and Saskia were drawn in Proposition with Leeds Grammar, against George Heriot’s School and King Edward VI School. Sam and Ghaz opposed with another team from George Heriot’s, against RGS and Grove.
James and Saskia argued that the motion defended the justice system and meritocracy in the workplace. They finished in third, being told that they ought to take care in ensuring their arguments were different to the first Proposition’s, and use more examples. Sam and Ghaz came fourth, having failed to fill their time with their arguments of preventing criminals from staying concealed and that the motion defeated the object of keeping criminal records.
For the final debate, ‘This House would ban adverts that exploit gender stereotypes’, James and Saskia proposed with Cheney School, facing RGS and George Watson’s. Sam and Ghazaleh also proposed with Dundee High School, against King Edward VI and Tunbridge Wells. James and Saskia finished in a remarkable second, successfully defining the motion and arguing that advertising was too powerful to be left as the last trace of sexism in society. Ghazaleh and Sam, however, were chuffed with FIRST PLACE!
A million ‘well done’ messages to the fabulous James Bartle MYP, the wonderful Sam Hunt, the brilliant Ghazaleh Mohammadi-Zaniani and the smashing Saskia Neibig! Here’s to the ICYD competition in Durham in January; unfortunately Saskia is the only of today’s competitors eligible to compete in 2009. Also, our thanks to Miss M. Murphy and Mrs M. Robinson for leading the squad, and for the support of Ms L. Dixon, Kaisa Polvikoski and Adam Thompson. Check out our podcast on Tuesday, which will include interviews with the participants.
oday was an important day for Society members. We were represented at the Northern Junior Debating Championship (NJDC), which is the fourth competition we have entered in the two years since the Union Society was formed. Two teams were entered, comprising James Bartle MYP and Saskia Neibig; and Sam Hunt and Ghazaleh Mohammadi-Zaniani respectively.Both teams performed magnificently. James and Saskia are competition veterans but had not been on the same team even at Society meetings until Tuesday’s practice round. They proved to be a winning combination, their different styles complimenting each other beautifully. Of 56 teams competing at the NJDC, they came in 11th place. James was awarded with a certificate, having received the sixth highest amount of speaker points of an incredible 112 students. Saskia finished in a fabulous 22nd place.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the spectrum, Sam and Ghazaleh had never participated in external debates. Ghazaleh had in fact only debated twice before today! They decided to enter the NJDC after being left gasping for more following the Society trip to Oxford for the ICYD finals in May. Considering their novicehood, their 21st position is absolutely fantastic. Ghazaleh finished in 19th place, while Sam was in 50th. These are both superb positions.
The first motion the teams had to face was ‘This House would pay pregnant women to stop smoking’. The debaters had practised this on Tuesday at Heaton Manor, so were well-prepared. However, they were not expecting to be drawn in the same debate, against one another. James and Saskia opposed the motion with a pair from Tunbridge Wells Girls’ Gramm
ar School, whilst Sam and Ghaz proposed with a team from the Grammar School at Leeds. James began by outlining the practical implications of the scheme (research prompted by the Floor question by Chris Redfearn on Tuesday) and attacking the cost. Saskia went on to demonstrate that the programme would be blatant nanny stateism, discrimination and a massive gamble.Ghazaleh and Sam argued that the cost will be recovered in the long term, that the scheme would reach the right people, and that it would break the cycle of dependence. Sam was left with the job of summarising the Proposition’s case. James and Saskia came first in this debate, whilst Sam and Ghazaleh followed in second. Tunbridge Wells came third; Leeds Grammar fourth. This was a massive boost to the debaters’ collective confidence, and a smashing result.
The second of the day’s debates was ‘This House would prevent employers from requesting the criminal records of potential employees except where they would be working with vulnerable groups’, a motion released only fifteen minutes prior to the start of the debate. James and Saskia were drawn in Proposition with Leeds Grammar, against George Heriot’s School and King Edward VI School. Sam and Ghaz opposed with another team from George Heriot’s, against RGS and Grove.
James and Saskia argued that the motion defended the justice system and meritocracy in the workplace. They finished in third, being told that they ought to take care in ensuring their arguments were different to the first Proposition’s, and use more examples. Sam and Ghaz came fourth, having failed to fill their time with their arguments of preventing criminals from staying concealed and that the motion defeated the object of keeping criminal records.
For the final debate, ‘This House would ban adverts that exploit gender stereotypes’, James and Saskia proposed with Cheney School, facing RGS and George Watson’s. Sam and Ghazaleh also proposed with Dundee High School, against King Edward VI and Tunbridge Wells. James and Saskia finished in a remarkable second, successfully defining the motion and arguing that advertising was too powerful to be left as the last trace of sexism in society. Ghazaleh and Sam, however, were chuffed with FIRST PLACE!
A million ‘well done’ messages to the fabulous James Bartle MYP, the wonderful Sam Hunt, the brilliant Ghazaleh Mohammadi-Zaniani and the smashing Saskia Neibig! Here’s to the ICYD competition in Durham in January; unfortunately Saskia is the only of today’s competitors eligible to compete in 2009. Also, our thanks to Miss M. Murphy and Mrs M. Robinson for leading the squad, and for the support of Ms L. Dixon, Kaisa Polvikoski and Adam Thompson. Check out our podcast on Tuesday, which will include interviews with the participants.
Friday, 19 September 2008
Should we pay pregnant women to give up smoking?
Debating gets underway again next week at Heaton Manor as the society's competition teams take part in a practice debate for the Northern Junior Debating Championships which take place on Saturday 27th September at the Royal Grammar School in Newcastle.
Debating the motion 'This House would pay pregnant women to give up smoking' will be:
Proposition
James Bartle
James is the Society's President and won 2008's Grand Final debate alongside Laurie J Dudley. He competed in ICYD 2007 alongside David Shepherd, partnered Laurie J Dudley in NJDC 2007 and reached the finals of ICYD 2008 held in Oxford earlier this year with David Larke. NJDC 2008 will be James' final competition at junior level.
Saskia Neibig
Saskia Neibig is Chair of the Executive and will partner James at NJDC 2008. Saskia previously competed in ICYD and NJDC 2007. Saskia and James are considered two of the society's strongest debaters although Tuesday's debate will be the first time they've ever competed on the same team in a debate.
Opposition
Sam Hunt
Sam Hunt is an experienced debater who has been with the society since its beginning. He is an accomplished campanologist and is currently Assistant to the Executive Committee. Like his partner in NJDC 2008, Sam is a competition novice although he did attend the finals of ICYD 2008 as an observer.
Ghazaleh Mohammadi-Zaniani
Ghazaleh has been debating for little over five months but quickly came to the attention of the society's leaders and has been partnered with Sam for next week's competition. Ghazaleh and Sam have debated together before but Ghazaleh has no experience of competitive debating although like Sam was an observer in Oxford.
The debate will take place on Tuesday 23rd September at 2.45pm in L7. Adam Thompson, Vice-President of the Society will be in the Chair whilst Sophie Barker is the Student Judge.
Debating the motion 'This House would pay pregnant women to give up smoking' will be:
Proposition
James Bartle
James is the Society's President and won 2008's Grand Final debate alongside Laurie J Dudley. He competed in ICYD 2007 alongside David Shepherd, partnered Laurie J Dudley in NJDC 2007 and reached the finals of ICYD 2008 held in Oxford earlier this year with David Larke. NJDC 2008 will be James' final competition at junior level.
Saskia Neibig
Saskia Neibig is Chair of the Executive and will partner James at NJDC 2008. Saskia previously competed in ICYD and NJDC 2007. Saskia and James are considered two of the society's strongest debaters although Tuesday's debate will be the first time they've ever competed on the same team in a debate.
Opposition
Sam Hunt
Sam Hunt is an experienced debater who has been with the society since its beginning. He is an accomplished campanologist and is currently Assistant to the Executive Committee. Like his partner in NJDC 2008, Sam is a competition novice although he did attend the finals of ICYD 2008 as an observer.
Ghazaleh Mohammadi-Zaniani
Ghazaleh has been debating for little over five months but quickly came to the attention of the society's leaders and has been partnered with Sam for next week's competition. Ghazaleh and Sam have debated together before but Ghazaleh has no experience of competitive debating although like Sam was an observer in Oxford.
The debate will take place on Tuesday 23rd September at 2.45pm in L7. Adam Thompson, Vice-President of the Society will be in the Chair whilst Sophie Barker is the Student Judge.
Tuesday, 16 September 2008
And so it all begins again...
Having avoided any attempts to depose our leader, unaffected by recent flooding and refreshed from our summer (what summer?) holidays, Heaton Manor Union Society is back for another year of debating.
Here's an update on happenings over the summer and since we've returned to school...
Change of day
Heaton Manor Union Society has changed its meeting day. The society will now meet each week on Tuesday's, 2.40pm in room H7. This new arrangement seemed to be the best option for most members and has also meant we've been able to take on lots of new members too. We welcome all our new members.
Debating Programme
We've only had one meeting so far and we've already planned our debating programme for the coming weeks. Members will be debating which is better, the playstation or the xbox; whether or not Scotland should leave the United Kingdom and go its own way; whether presumed organ donation should become law; and whether gay people should be banned from adopting. An exciting programme that covers a range of topical issues, we look forward to all of those debates.
Committee
The new Committee was due to take office on 1st August but due to a number of complications new Committee members won't take office just yet. An ad-hoc Committee of the President (James Bartle), ex-Chair (Laurie Dudley) and Saskia Neibig (former Treasurer and Chair-designate) is currently working on a plan to overcome the present problems.
We look forward to seeing new faces and old over coming weeks as we get back in to the swing of things.
Here's an update on happenings over the summer and since we've returned to school...
Change of day
Heaton Manor Union Society has changed its meeting day. The society will now meet each week on Tuesday's, 2.40pm in room H7. This new arrangement seemed to be the best option for most members and has also meant we've been able to take on lots of new members too. We welcome all our new members.
Debating Programme
We've only had one meeting so far and we've already planned our debating programme for the coming weeks. Members will be debating which is better, the playstation or the xbox; whether or not Scotland should leave the United Kingdom and go its own way; whether presumed organ donation should become law; and whether gay people should be banned from adopting. An exciting programme that covers a range of topical issues, we look forward to all of those debates.
Committee
The new Committee was due to take office on 1st August but due to a number of complications new Committee members won't take office just yet. An ad-hoc Committee of the President (James Bartle), ex-Chair (Laurie Dudley) and Saskia Neibig (former Treasurer and Chair-designate) is currently working on a plan to overcome the present problems.
We look forward to seeing new faces and old over coming weeks as we get back in to the swing of things.
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