As James and I made clear in our closing comments today, the debate on bankers' bonuses was really brilliant. Of course, there is always room for improvement and we identified keeping everybody involved throughout the debate, and avoiding overlap as some of the things that Rosa, David, Ben and Willem can work on.
However, these problems are easily resolved, and what the debaters should be proud of is the clarity and considered approach with which they debated today. No one was left in a muddle at the end of the debate, and the arguments on either side were very persuasive.
In the end, we decided to give the bonus to Willem and Ben, and the floor agreed with us by a massive majority. This majority did not reflect just how close the debate was, and it was by a small margin that David and Rosa lost out today.
Last week, some brilliant performances were put in by the Year 7s, who for the last time for a while, debated in front of the whole team. Jordan and Ellie stole the audience vote by a sliver, and also bagged our bonus. On 18 November, I was not available, but have heard that there was a brilliant debate, the only one so far this year to split the judges and the popular vote.
What's new? As I have alluded to, the society has a new system. Year 7s and other members now debate on alternative weeks. During Year 7 debates, students from Years 8 – 11 work on their next showdown; James and I watching over proceedings and holding workshops.
Wednesday, 9 December 2009
Tuesday, 10 November 2009
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.
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.
Wednesday, 23 September 2009
Good start to the new year
Wednesdays are indeed the new Tuesdays Laurie and it seems Debating Society is now the cool place to be for Year 7s. As we kicked off our first debate of the year, we were very pleased to be joined this week by our new cohort of Year 7s. Existing Society members were few in number today (half a dozen at most) but we still managed to see one of our best attended 'normal' debates in the history of the society. Today's debate was attended by 24 audience members, most of whom were all Year 7s. This is promising stuff and will hopefully yield good results in terms of our future prospects in competitions.
Our first debate tackled the contentious issue of the summer; the case of the Lockerbie bomber. Our young Year 8s, Ben Wallace and Thomas Knight argued it was right to show compassion to Abeldbaset Ali al Megrahi and release him from jail. Whilst newcomer Mohammad Azizyan (stepping in at the last moment) and Sahan Bentotage argued that Mr al Megrahi did not deserve compassion. A lively Q&A session followed that saw many of our Year 7s get involved.
In the end the judges and the audience came to a split decision; the Opposition picking up the floor vote, 15 votes to 9 and the judges bonus point going to the Proposition. All agreed it was a great way to start the year.
Next week will see a planning session with a difference as we prepare our new members for their first debates. Proceedings start at 2.40pm, in L7 on Tuesday 30th September. A full list of forthcoming debates will be published at that point.
Our first debate tackled the contentious issue of the summer; the case of the Lockerbie bomber. Our young Year 8s, Ben Wallace and Thomas Knight argued it was right to show compassion to Abeldbaset Ali al Megrahi and release him from jail. Whilst newcomer Mohammad Azizyan (stepping in at the last moment) and Sahan Bentotage argued that Mr al Megrahi did not deserve compassion. A lively Q&A session followed that saw many of our Year 7s get involved.
In the end the judges and the audience came to a split decision; the Opposition picking up the floor vote, 15 votes to 9 and the judges bonus point going to the Proposition. All agreed it was a great way to start the year.
Next week will see a planning session with a difference as we prepare our new members for their first debates. Proceedings start at 2.40pm, in L7 on Tuesday 30th September. A full list of forthcoming debates will be published at that point.
Wednesday, 16 September 2009
Wednesdays are the new Tuesdays...
The nights are drawing in and September marks the return of our debates. We kick off on Wednesday, 23 September 2009 with a brilliantly topical show-down on the subject of the Lockerbie bomber. Our newsletter will return then too.
And it's all change at the Union Society, as six of our most senior and experienced debaters have headed to the HeadStrong Club for another chapter in their debating careers. However, they've been duely succeeded by the wealth of debating talent already present among our Year 8 – 11 members, plus some promising newcomers from Year 7 and beyond.
Those debaters will now be taking each other on during Period Seven on Wednesdays, instead of last year's weekly Tuesday meetings.
What's more, former Society President, James Bartle MYP is joining the judging panel indefinitely, while Laurie Dudley will return to meetings in a month in some role or another.
If you'd like to find out more, browse our website or drop in on Wednesday from 14:40 to 15:30.
And it's all change at the Union Society, as six of our most senior and experienced debaters have headed to the HeadStrong Club for another chapter in their debating careers. However, they've been duely succeeded by the wealth of debating talent already present among our Year 8 – 11 members, plus some promising newcomers from Year 7 and beyond.
Those debaters will now be taking each other on during Period Seven on Wednesdays, instead of last year's weekly Tuesday meetings.
What's more, former Society President, James Bartle MYP is joining the judging panel indefinitely, while Laurie Dudley will return to meetings in a month in some role or another.
If you'd like to find out more, browse our website or drop in on Wednesday from 14:40 to 15:30.
Tuesday, 2 June 2009
The coming weeks
Next week there will be a meeting of the Society, and all members are advised to attend as usual. Information will then be relayed about the following weeks. Thank you.
Monday, 18 May 2009
A United States of Europe?
It was Winston Churchill who first suggested the creation of a 'United States of Europe' back in 1946. Sixty-three years on it remains a matter of debate as to whether old Winston would have approved of the modern European Union. But tomorrow we will put the question of Europe to our own members to make up their minds as to what future they want for Europe.
Do they want a UKIP-supported withdrawal from the EU or a Liberal Democrat federal European superstate? Representatives of the five main European parties will pitch their visions for the future of Europe and answer questions on the economy, the Lisbon Treaty and much more in a Heaton Manor Union Society event tomorrow.
James Bartle MYP will represent the Conservatives, David Shepherd the Green Party, Saskia Neibig is representing UKIP, David Larke Labour and Thomas Knight will speak for the Liberal Democrats. All five will take questions from the floor in a Question Time style debate ahead of next months European Parliament elections on June 4th.
Adam Thompson will take the chair (no votes of confidence, we promise!) and everyone is welcome to attend and cast their vote in our mock European election.
Do they want a UKIP-supported withdrawal from the EU or a Liberal Democrat federal European superstate? Representatives of the five main European parties will pitch their visions for the future of Europe and answer questions on the economy, the Lisbon Treaty and much more in a Heaton Manor Union Society event tomorrow.
James Bartle MYP will represent the Conservatives, David Shepherd the Green Party, Saskia Neibig is representing UKIP, David Larke Labour and Thomas Knight will speak for the Liberal Democrats. All five will take questions from the floor in a Question Time style debate ahead of next months European Parliament elections on June 4th.
Adam Thompson will take the chair (no votes of confidence, we promise!) and everyone is welcome to attend and cast their vote in our mock European election.
Monday, 6 April 2009
Happy Easter!
Happy Easter from the Union Society. James hasn't been on here for a while, but we'll have a talk after Easter and hopefully this will be regular again. Understandably, James is very busy with GCSE revision at present so someone else may take over for a short period. In the meantime, have a fab holiday.
James' Easter message will become available on Good Friday, whilst the termly graph that shows debaters' progress is visible now. Click on it to see it in full...
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