Grand Final Debate 2010: thank you and goodbye

Yesterday’s Grand Final Debate was a low-key affair in comparison to those of previous years, but anything we lacked in frivolity was more than made up for in quality. The debate, This House believes that the age of criminal responsibility should be raised to 16., focused on a divisive and interesting issue. The four high-achieving debaters who tackled the motion had an excellent grasp of the subject, bringing moral, social and practical arguments to the table with intelligence and insight.

Sahan Bentotage and Ben Wallace, who proposed the motion, argued that a country’s liberal credentials can be measured by its treatment of children, and pointed out that the UK’s age of criminal responsibility is the lowest in Europe. Sahan and Ben argued for parental responsibility, and questioned whether children are capable of understanding the difference between right and wrong, or, moreover, the consequences of doing wrong. Pointing out the correlation between high ages of criminal responsibility and low young offence rates, the proposition debaters proved themselves certainly worthy of a place in the final.

It was the opposition, however, that ultimately convinced the floor, winning by a single vote. Willem Evans and David Larke spoke with authority on the case of James Bulger, highlighting the criminal intent of his 10 year-old killers. They pointed out that the numbers of under-16s committing crimes would merely be swept under the rug should the age of criminal responsibility be raised, and argued that punishment must be used to prove that crime is unacceptable irrespective of the perpetrator’s age.

The close result of the Grand Final is evidence enough of the high quality of the debate as a whole, and, since all four of this year’s finalists have at least one more year with the Heaton Manor Union Society, next year will surely see them improve further and challenge one another to the championship once more. They’ll have their work cut out, however, as there are many more members of the debating society who will give them a run for their money in 2011. Special congratulations must be given to David, who was ecstatic at having won a Grand Final after two unsuccessful challenges in previous years.

Yesterday was a celebration of all that has happened in the Union Society over the last year, with prizes awarded to all four finalists as well as the chair, Thomas Knight, who did a sterling job, plus a spread of delightful refreshments and a guest appearance from long-term supporter of the debating society, Ms Dixon. The society presented Miss Murphy and Mrs Robinson with cards and flowers by way of saying “thank you” for their hard work this year, and I’d like to extend my personal thanks to everyone – Miss Murphy and Mrs Robinson in particular – for their kind words and for the lovely gift I received at my last debate with the Heaton Manor Union Society.

Having been with the debating society since its foundation in 2006, first as a debater and since as a judge and mentor, it has been a wonderful opportunity to explore ideas and watch many fantastic debaters come out of their shells. I’ll miss it very much, and I know that our debaters will be successful in whatever they go on to do, including, I hope, continuing to debate in sixth form and beyond. James will, I’m sure, continue to run this blog and website, so that I can continue to follow the goings-on in the society and perhaps, if you’ll have me, return to observe the Grand Final Debate 2011.

Until then (or until next week’s party, which I wouldn’t miss for the world), thank you and goodbye.
Laurie Dudley