The month in debating

My on/off relationship with the Union Society over the last month has led to something of a hole in the updates on this site. Sincerest apologies and let's recall the debates of the year so far.

Wednesday, 07 October 2009
This House believes footballers get paid too much.
Proposition: Eleanor Bohill and Willem Evans
Opposition: Rosa Cole and Keir Mochrie
Speaker: Thomas Knight
Judges: James Bartle MYP and Miss M. Murphy

The winners of this debate were the proposition, with 23 votes to 13, and they also bagged the judges' bonus. They made the case that "playing a game" was not as valuable to society as the work of doctors, nurses and teachers. The opposition rebuked this claim with the arguments that footballers deserve the money they receive and that it comes from ticket revenue.


Wednesday, 14 October 2009
This House believes zoos are cruel.
Proposition: Ruben Cole and Louis Conroy
Opposition: Owen Ramsey and Robbie Tomson
Speaker: David Larke
Judges: Mrs M. Robinson and Laurie Dudley

The opposition won this with a 17-8 victory, plus the judges' bonuses. This was a great debate with an all-new line-up. The idea that zoos exploit animals as they are miserable and poorly cared for was well countered with arguments concerning the protection offered by zoos and the example of San Diego Zoo.


Wednesday, 21 October 2009
This House believes all police should carry guns.
Proposition: Levi Croom and Harry Mackenzie
Opposition: Declan Farey and James Walton
Speaker: Jake Robinson
Judges: Miss M. Murphy and Mrs M. Robinson

The proposition bagged the judges' respect as well as the floor vote with a margin of 23 to 5, having massively convinced those present by talking about protecting the public. The opposition were worried about people's safety.


Wednesday, 04 November 2009
This House believes that smoking should be illegal in the UK.
Proposition: William Gammack and James Magambo
Opposition: Jonny Pease and Ben Wallace
Speaker: Willem Evans
Judges: James Bartle MYP and Miss M. Murphy

This fourth and final debate inspired a similarly solid response from both floor and judges: a 21-13 win for the opposition, and the judges' point. Ben Wallace was highly credited, especially for working with new debaters. The debate hinged on balancing health with freedom.


It should also be noted that the NJDC team unfortunately could not make the competition, as reported would happen in the last issue of the Conversation.