We are the debating champions
02 Oct 2020
First a win against King’s College a week ago, and now named the winners of Canterbury Schools’ debating.
The College Alpha debating team was on fire again on Thursday evening, 1 October, when it faced St Margaret’s College in a closely fought verbal battle for the title of Canterbury Schools’ debating champion – and came away with the prize.
John-Paul Lay, Angad Vraich and Jamie Yee were negating “that we would disband police unions,” their arguments convincing the three adjudicators from the Canterbury Schools’ Debating Council.
Senior Officer for the Council Megan Blackwood and judges Vikas Shenoy and Will Miller described the final, held in the OBT, as “high quality” and “a very close contest” which had resulted in a split vote.
St Margaret’s affirmed, exploring issues of the evidence of an “us versus them” culture, and unions wanting to protect their members at all costs; the College boys proposed that culture change came from the top, and suggested a new leader should be appointed, someone who “front foots,” allowing for a positive change in culture, and an improvement in the conditions for the police themselves.
As the debate seesawed, the audience of parents and supporters were treated to some entertaining rhetoric and informed argument with each speaker warmly acknowledged for the skillful presentation of fresh ideas.
At the end of the evening the judges also announced the top five speakers of the Canterbury tournament, with John-Paul Lay in fourth place.
