NJDC 2008: an absolute triumph

Today 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’ Grammar 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.