Debating Matters’ unique online championships made a virtual stop in Berlin for a series of high-quality and challenging debates, with the Humboldt Gymnasium beating five other schools from around Berlin to become the Debating Matters Online Berlin Champions.
After the teams tackled these debates in the group stages, it was Hans Carossa Gymnasium and Humboldt Gymnasium who emerged as the strongest two teams and so progressed to the final to debate whether monuments to controversial historical figures should remain. It was a very hard-fought debate, with many excellent contributions from the floor. too, as representatives from all six schools returned for the final to test their ideas and improve their arguments. However, it was the team from Humboldt Gymnasium who emerged as victors.
In addition to the prizes for the winner and runners-up teams, Debating Matters was delighted to award prizes for the top three ‘best individuals’ who had impressed the judges throughout the competition with consistently great questions. Winning the Commended (third place) prize was Victoria Santos Reschke from Schadow Gymnasium, and the HighlyCommended (second place) prize was Petar Lolovic from Gottfried Keller Gymnasium. But the BestIndividual from the tournament was Diane Langeloh from Humboldt Gymnasium.
The range of contributions really highlighted the excellent standard of debate, and students from all schools taking part – Bertha von Suttner Gymnasium, Gottfried Keller Gymnasium, Hans Carossa Gymnasium, Leibniz Gymnasium, Schadow Gymnasium as well of course as the winners, Humboldt Gymnasium – deserve praise.
Indeed, we hope to welcome any interested students from the day to the Debating Matters Alumni Network, as a way to stay in touch with and stay involved in the competition. We hope to see some of the pupils as future chairs and judges!
Debating Matters has always felt honoured to work with the Freiblickinstitut to bring the competition to Germany, and even if we may have been joining our colleagues in Berlin virtually, the chance to meet minds across the continent is always hugely appreciated, so we thank the Freiblickinstitut for their hard work and commitment.
Debating Matters will be continuing its online championships for a little longer yet, but we look forward to resuming events in person, in line with government guidance, at the earliest opportunity.
The third Debating Matters Online Championship ends with Ecclesbourne victorious
Six schools from around the country spent much of January thinking hard about and debating some of the key questions of our time. With pandemic restrictions still in place, Debating Matters was delighted to continue to jump online to offer its unique approach to schools’ debating.
After a hard fought competition, with superb performances from both teams, it was The Ecclesbourne School who ended up champions, beating Gosforth Academy in an exceptional final where Ecclesbourne defended the motion ‘Western museums should repatriate cultural artefacts’.
The competition saw The Ecclesbourne School win their group stage debates against University Technical College Norfolk and Havering College, with Gosforth Academy likewise topping their group which contained Oundle School and St John Rigby College. All six schools fielded excellent teams with spirited performances from all debaters. It was clear from the very beginning of the tournament that debaters had spent their time with the Debating Matters Topic Guides, reading through the introductory essays produced by the boi charity and delving into the further reading.
Indeed, such was the quality on offer that many of the debates finished as split decisions from the judging panels, which, as ever in Debating Matters, consisted of three eminent individuals from the arts, politics, business and the media. Debating Matters is extremely grateful for their involvement.
Given the wide variety of excellent points being made throughout the tournament, Debating Matters was delighted to recognise a number of individuals in the prize giving. Adam Cassidy of Gosforth Academy took the Commended prize and Ruby Rowlands of The Ecclesbourne School won HighlyCommended. However, it was Lyra Christie of Gosforth Academy who took the highly coveted BestIndividual prize, after impressing in her group stage debate and her excellent and thoughtful performance in the final. In addition, Amelie Holtby of Oundle School, Syd Orchard of Havering Sixth Form College, Ornella Drake of University Technical College Norfolk and Kieran Elison from St John Rigby College also all won honourable mentions for their great points and good research.
Debating Matters often refers to the teachers as the true ‘unsung heroes’ of the competition, as they spend significant amounts of time preparing their pupils and encouraging them to delve deeply into the subjects. As ever, we thank all the teachers for their time and dedication, especially under the current circumstances.
Louise Dawson, the teacher from The Ecclesbourne School, had this to say in reaction to their victory:
“We are in a state of shock! Everyone in the team has been in touch to say how much they enjoyed the whole experience. They worked so hard and I am very proud of them. We entered the competition with no expectations of doing anything more than taking part. We never expected to get this far let alone win. The students have learned so much and greatly appreciated the respect the judges have shown through their tough questioning. The students keep asking me: what next? It is no exaggeration to say that Debating Matters has literally changed their lives. This has been the best thing in a dark time.”
Similarly, Robert MacDonald of Oundle School, who’s team only just missed out on reaching the final, reacted:
“Debating Matters was very welcoming. It is a very professional competition yet very accessible to all, and our pupils were well signposted towards what they would need to do, whilst also treated as mature debaters.”
To find out how to get involved in future competitions, please email Mo Lovatt dm@theboi.co.uk.
Debating Matters concluded its first-ever online championships this autumn, with 12 schools battling it out over two competitions to grab the first-ever Debating Matters virtual crowns.
After a long and challenging year, it’s been a thrilling return to Debating Matters. Leaving behind the challenges of bubbles and isolation, 12 schools from around the country logged on to take part in two new-look Debating Matters Championships. The debates that usually characterise our championships – with audiences and peers from different schools all mixing – have not been able to take place in person this year, but we’re delighted to have made our own contribution to ensuring that intellectual life hasn’t been locked down!
Debating topics from digital privacy to colonial reparations, government intervention in healthy lifestyles to controversial monuments, the participating pupils demonstrated that there is a real appetite for considered, well-researched debate that is big on ideas and full of substance. Debating Matters Online has been a tonic in a time of media soundbites and an acrimonious culture war. Maidstone Grammar School, the winners of the November tournament, and Barnard Castle School, winners of the December tournament, demonstrated admirable intellectual courage and will justly be recorded as the first schools to win one of the new Online Championships.
To get there, they had to see off some seriously challenging opposition. Maidstone Grammar narrowly beat Sherborne School for Girls in the final debate, after both schools topped their groups which included Cardiff Sixth Form College, Cirencester College, Exeter College and Richmond upon Thames College. There were a number of exceptional individuals who consistently asked thoughtful and difficult questions, with Ellie Breeze of Maidstone Grammar School taking the coveted Best Individual award and Bill Chen of Cardiff Sixth Form College and Alice McCormick of Sherborne Girls winning the Highly Commended and Commended prizes respectively.
Barnard Castle also had some tough competition in the December Championship. In the final debate of the Championship they beat a spirited team from Queen Mary’s College by successfully arguing in favour of reparations to former colonies. Both teams came top of their groups, which included excellent teams from Burgate School, The Kingston Academy, Tarporley High School and Truro School. The Best Individual from the competition went to Vato Vepkhvadze of Barnard Castle, with Tessa Lovatt of Burgate winning Highly Commended and Adam Cramer of Queen Mary’s College winning the Commended prize.
All of the individual winners, as well as the winning schools and runners up, came away with excellent prizes courtesy of Hodder Education, Prospect Magazine and Oxford University Press.
No Debating Matters Championship would be complete without a host of exceptional judges, coming from all walks of life, to put students on the spot and substantiate their arguments. Debating Matters would like to thank them all for their brilliant contributions and giving up their time to ensure that young people have the opportunity to debate some of the most pressing issues facing society.
Whilst adapting to the new online format has not been without its challenges, it is a huge credit to the judges, pupils and teachers that the quality of the two tournaments has been exceptionally high, with genuinely thrilling debates in every group. Aided by the Debating Matters Topic Guides – a great introduction to the issues complete with a list of recommended readings and news items – the pupils took the ideas seriously and relished the ‘substance over style’ format that Debating Matters offers.
As we come to the end of a unique and often difficult year, Debating Matters is delighted that these championships have provided a ray of intellectual sunshine – and look forward to hosting several more in the New Year before, we hope, returning to in-person tournaments!
DEBATING MATTERS NEEDS YOUR HELP
It has been a tough year for all of us, but especially for charities like ours. We are desperate to carry on providing the intellectual platform to the next generation, but we need your help.
Throughout the pandemic, we at Debating Matters have strived to support teachers and pupils through the challenges and keep debate alive. Earlier in the year, we took Debating Matters Online, running several online debates between schools all around the UK. With restrictions on social events set to continue, we’re launching two initiatives to keep debate alive.
First, we are launching our first ever Debating Matters Online Championship.
We’re now recruiting for 6-8 school teams to take part in the first championship, which will be held over a period of two weeks after the October half term (exact dates TBC). Each team will have a minimum of two debates, and if they beat the other teams in their group they will progress to our first ever online final.
As ever, teams will be put on the spot by panels of distinguished judges, and a team of individual judges will be watching all the online debates to identify talented individuals. Schools will be encouraged to have supporters log on and participate by asking probing questions. In true Debating Matters style, the winning and runners-up team, as well as three top individuals, will come away with great prizes from our partners.
If you would like to register your interest, please email Mo Lovatt at dm@theboi.co.uk stating when your school would be available to take part (during school hours or after school). A draw will be made and schools notified in the coming weeks whether they have been selected. We anticipate that with strong demand, Debating Matters will explore holding further online championships.
Second, where possible, we’d like to help schools new to debating by offering debate training and workshops.
Either in person or via zoom, we’d love to help get debate started in your school. We can offer packages to help students to construct arguments, get a debating society set up, and help pupils and teachers learn how to chair and judge the debates. We are offering these sessions at cost on a charitable basis to schools who need the help.
If you would like to hear more, please get in touch with us by emailing dm@theboi.co.uk.
After seeing the success of the Debating Matters Online debates run during the Lockdown, former Debating Matters Director Tony Gilland took the spirit of DM Online and decided to engage some old contacts from his time running Debating Matters India (2008-2014). Tony organised three debates between Queen Elizabeth Grammar School and teams in India.
In this article, Debating Matters competitor Emma Gilland reports on the success of the series of debates:
Through the early month of lockdown many of us felt that not only were we missing out on school but in fact we were missing out on more than that, as all our time, thoughts and conversation were consumed by the dramas and injustices of lockdown. Although it could be seen that this brought a certain level of abnormality and interest it also was the centre of repetitive and dull conversation, which is why the re-ignition of the Debating Matters India online was such a great experience.
“This international debating was an amazing experience which should be extended to allow the chance for others to try as it is especially broadening and exhilarating as the teams are adapting and reading the differences in debating style and viewpoints, much more than in a national competition as there is such a contrast in lifestyle and culture between the teams.”
Emma Gilland, Debating Matters Debater
Since the start of lockdown there had been various debates between schools and students, but this then changed into an international event between Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar School (Faversham, Kent) and various schools in India as we extended ourselves to further distract from the lack of variation at home. There were three debates across the six week period which gained momentum as the debaters began to feel more comfortable with the format and overall feel of an international debate.
The first debate was a global issue, debating on whether populism is a threat to democracy; this was a heated and passionate debate full with real examples from many areas and time periods in contemporary society, especially relevant in the current political climate. This debate was a great start as there was so much compelling evidence laced through the debate combining awareness of current events with real clarity over the arguments which were well thought-through and very well presented. Through the debate there were historical, modern and theoretical examples deployed in response to the deep and technical questions by the judges. It was an exciting and passionate debate which was highly enjoyable for both the audience and the judges. The British team, from Queen Elizabeth’s, stole the debate due to the stronger structure of their arguments, the evidence used in their responses, and their ability to really target the questions with solid examples from a wide area of sources leaving little room for scepticism. However, in saying this it was seen as a very close debate with the only difference being the level and amount of examples through the debate. Overall the debaters felt that the strength and passion from the opposing side allowed them to really open their minds and look at the issues from different angles, making them not only better in the debate but leaving with a much more rounded and deeper understanding of the issue.
Following this we moved onto the complicated yet hugely influential birth strike movement debating on whether or not people should only have two children. This sparked a huge conversation and the opposing sides both were strong and clear on their arguments. The proposition focused on the huge impact needed to protect the environment and the moral arguments underpinning this perspective. The proposition argued the outcome could be achieved through incentives (rather than being forced), therefore still allowing for individual choice. However, through the debate the opposition questioned whether people would really have a choice? Do incentives in fact take that away and is it necessary to put that pressure on families? The opposition argued further that the consumer culture of the West is the real issue and the proposed restriction on the number of children is a distraction. Both sides held well throughout the debate but in the end it was the opposition, from the Indian school DPS Megacity, Kolkata, which won the debate. Their passion and clarity on the importance of choice won them the day, with their emphasis on the morality of choice (instead of any possible practical benefits) convincing the judges.
The final debate was another big contemporary conversation about whether childhood vaccinations should be compulsory. This was a stretching topic for both teams as they were dealing with complex issues such compulsion, liberty and the role of the state. Both sides made powerful arguments and demonstrated strongly held, well thought-through positions. The debate centred around the issue of what liberalism means, bringing in plenty of examples from contemporary events and culture. This made the debate especially enjoyable to watch as they brought in issues from today’s politics. The debate was lively and laced with both issues and principles. In the end, the British team won due to their ability to really undermine the opposition’s arguments and underpin their own, but overall it was a hugely enjoyable, well matched and very close debate to conclude the series.
One special feature of Debating Matters is that it was clear how helpful and enjoyable the experience was for not only those debating but many of the judges and audience members. The difference in debate styles and culture kept everyone on their toes and opened our eyes to how much we can get out of talking and discussing some of these contemporary issues with people beyond our circle. The debates were a massive success as they opened our eyes through both our experience of debating and having our arguments challenged by the judges, but also through the opportunity they gave us to research into these topics and understand how many other issues there are to be solved. This was especially needed in the current times as we have been so caught up in the personal restrictions of the lockdown.
FOR Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar School, Kent Teacher: Tom Finn-Kelcey Debaters: Ellie Waller & Rishi Milward-Bose
AGAINST Team Chennai Teacher: Ragini Srinivasan, Indian Schools Debating Society Debaters: Nitin Kishor & Rakshitha Hebbar
JUDGES Nikunj Agarwal, strategic consultant, WP; alumnus, DM India Dolan Cummings, associate fellow, Academy of Ideas; author, That Existential Leap: a crime story Janaka Pushpanathan, Director, British Council South India
FOR Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar School, Kent Teacher: Tom Finn-Kelcey Debaters: Freya Moorhouse & Emma Gilland
AGAINST DPS Megacity, Kolkata Teacher: Anirban Roy Debaters: Arth Agarwal &Vidyut Chattopadhyay
JUDGES Debanjan Chakrabarti, director, East and Northeast India, British Council Timandra Harkness, writer, comedian and broadcaster; author, Big Data: Does Size Matter? Shreya Radhakrishnan, vice president, Goldman Sachs; alumnus, DM India
FOR Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar School,Kent Teacher: Tom Finn-Kelcey Debaters: Ben Ansley & Beth Poulteney
AGAINST Christ Junior College IBDP, Bangalore Teacher: Manoj Varghese Debaters: Siddharth Tugnait & Arjun Mahesh Guru
JUDGES Professor George Thomas, chief orthopaedic surgeon, St. Isabel’s Hospital, Chennai Shreya Radhakrishnan, vice president, Goldman Sachs; alumnus, DM India Jacob Reynolds, partnerships manager, Academy of Ideas; co-convenor, Living Freedom and The Academy, boi charity
To help keep students engaged and support teachers with something exciting for their pupils to do, we took Debating Matters Online during the coronavirus lockdown.
The response we received from teachers, judges and Debating Matters alumni was hugely encouraging. We knew that Debating Matters has a wide network of supporters and all of your messages and offers of support were hugely appreciated (especially those – schools or judges – that we haven’t yet been able to involve!).
In the past weeks, we’ve engaged dozens of students, judges and teachers across six showcase online debates – read about them in detail here. We’ve seen cracking debates take place on everything from whether ‘Social media sites should filter out fake news‘ to whether ‘Britain should pay reparations for its colonial past‘. Many of the debates have taken on a new colour from the coronavirus crisis – the topic on compulsory vaccinations is just one example – but it has also been important to remind ourselves that as important as coronavirus is, there are a host of other moral, political and scientific questions that we all need to interrogate.
As well as getting to grips with important contemporary issues, and keeping intellects engaged whilst we follow social distancing, Debating Matters Online has given many pupils, teacher and professionals a reminder of the importance of meeting minds and forging social connections. In fact, we’ve been able to break down distance barriers like never before: whether its schools from London and Derry debating each other, alumni from Berlin joining in the conversation, or judges zooming in from Washington DC.
We’ll soon be sharing some video-snippets of how it all went down, but for now, we want to thank everyone who took part, and congratulate the winners: Cardiff Sixth Form College, Havering College, Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar School, Exeter College, Thornhill College Derry, and St Edward’s School Oxford. Likewise, the high standard of the debates meant that the judges had a series of very tough choices, and so we also want to send our commiserations to those teams who were just pipped to the post: Cirencester College, Magdalen College School, Queens School Bushey, East London Science School, and Durham High School for Girls.
Like many, we are anticipating that schools will be returning soon, and so schools will be able to take debate into the classrooms again. But until then, if there are any schools still eager to participate in DM Online, please do get in touch with Jacob Reynolds
Finally, a short plea from us. At the boi charity, we haven’t gone into furlough. In fact, we’ve been as busy as ever organising debates and preparing for online events. So if you would like to show your appreciation and help out a good cause, please consider donating to the boi charity.
We’re delighted to announce the launch of Debating Matters Online – our contribution to keeping debate alive during these difficult times.
During the lockdown, its important that everyone does their bit to support one another and find new ways to keep social isolation at bay. That’s why we wanted to take Debating Matters Online, and provide materials to support teachers or parents who want to keep pupils intellectually engaged during the lockdown.
After a successful pilot debate (which you can watch here), we are making the full how-to guide available for teachers, students, and anyone interested in keeping debate alive. You can use it to organise your own debates.
Alongside this guide, which anyone can use, the Debating Matters team will be organising a number of DM Online debates – we’ll invite judges, chair the debate, and match up interested schools to debate against each other. If you would like to take part, please email mo@theboi.co.uk.
With schools closed for the majority of students and lockdown underway, we want to offer some support for teachers thinking about what to engage pupils with. There is lots that can be done to generate a spirit of intellectual inquiry, discussion and debate.
We’ve
always referred to teachers as the ‘unsung heroes’ of the competition. Indeed,
the resilience of many teachers and the hard work that organising classes
remotely will entail means that teachers are ‘unsung heroes’ for society more
broadly. We want to support teachers as much as possible.
Whilst
we can’t be together in person, we do have a number of things that people can
do to keep debate alive whilst the schools are closed:
On top of this we will be publishing
some guides over the next few days about how you can encourage students to do a
Debating Matters debate remotely. We hope this will be useful resource and
something you can plan for students to do without too much extra work on your
part.
We’ll
also stay active on social media, suggesting readings, topics, lectures and
podcasts that will keep you busy, thinking, and critical.
If you
have any questions, suggestions, or want to share any ideas, please do get in
touch with us. You should email Bernie Whelan, bernie@theboi.co.uk or call on 020 7269 9230.
Over
this period, the priority is following the government advice and staying safe.
But hopefully alongside this we can all keep the spirit of debate alive, and
sharpen our minds and arguments for when things go back to normal.
A thoughtful and determined team from Humboldt Gymnasium beat eleven other schools from around Berlin to win the coveted Debating Matters Berlin trophy at an essential day of debate hosted by University of Applied Sciences Europe (UE) and supported by Freiblickinstitut. In a challenging and at times charged final on whether Germany should pay reparations for its colonial past, Humboldt, arguing in favour, triumphed over Lessing Gymnasium.
Humboldt Gymnasium, the winners of Debating Matters Berlin 2020
Lessing Gymnasium argued persuasively throughout the day, impressing with their intellectual depth as they won their way through debates on whether people should have fewer children to solve the climate emergency and whether social egg freezing empowers women. They then won their semi-final against Paulsen Gymnasium, arguing against mandatory vaccinations for children, in which they memorably cited the German Grundgesetz (‘basic law’) in defence of their case.
However, it was Humboldt who got the better of the arguments in a cracking final debate, with their team arguing passionately that Germany has a moral obligation to provide reparations to former colonies, citing the importance of Germany’s post-war reparations to Jews in Israel as a model.
The event was hosted at UE’s Berlin campus, and judges from the University joined others from around Berlin to put students on the spot to develop and justify their arguments. Students were warmly received into the University as the valuable partnership between Debating Matters and UE gave German pupils an opportunity to enter into the spirit of the unique Debating Matters format. Similarly, Freiblickinstitut provided invaluable support to the competition and have been a longstanding champion of Debating Matters and its ethos of open debate.
The judges awarded Giulio Polisi of Lessing Gymnasium the coveted Best Individual prize for his intellectual breadth and consistently excellent panel performances, with Federica Ballardini taking the Highly Commended prize in second place and Jakob von Bullion with the Commended prize.
Clockwise from top, the Best Individual Guilio Polisi, Highly Commended Federica Ballardini and Commended Jakob von Bullion receiving their prizes from Professor Filipe de Castro Soeiro
NOTES
For further information about the event, the Debating Matters competition or to request photos or interviews with students, teachers, judges and other participants, please contact Jacob Reynolds on 020 7269 9231 or email jacob@theboi.co.uk
The students were all from:
Bertha-von-Suttner-Gymnasium
Eckener-Gymnasium
Gottfried-Keller-Gymnasium
Gymnasium Steglitz
Hans-Carossa-Gymnasium
Humboldt-Gymnasium
Leibniz-Gymnasium
Lessing-Gymnasium
Paulsen-Gymnasium
Schadow-Gymnasium
Werner-von-Siemens-Gymnasium
Wilma-Rudolph-Oberschule
Created in 2002, Debating Matters is a UK-based debating competition. DM
offers a fresh, accessible and engaging format for debating contemporary
real-world issues, with an emphasis on substance, not just style of debating, and
the importance of taking ideas seriously.
Debating Matters is a project of the boi charity. For more information
on the charity, please visit www.theboi.co.uk
Follow Debating Matters on Twitter: @DebatingMatters
On Wednesday 5 February, a thoughtful and determined team from The Burgate School and Sixth Form beat seven other schools from the local area to win the coveted Debating Matters Southampton 2020 trophy at a stimulating day of debate hosted by Solent University and supported by NATS.
Burgate, Debating Matters stalwarts who were eager to win their first trophy, triumphed over King Edward VI School in a truly enlightening final on whether museums should repatriate colonial-era cultural artefacts.
The Burgate School and Sixth Form, the winners of Debating Matters Southampton
King Edward VI argued expansively throughout the day, impressing with their intellectual agility as they won their way through debates including mandatory vaccinations, corporate sponsorship of the arts, and whether people should have fewer children to solve the climate emergency.
The runners-up, King Edward VI School with Dr Brian McDonough, the sociology course leader, Solent University
However, it was Burgate who got the better of the arguments in an intense final debate, with their team arguing passionately that museums need to resist the politicisation of cultural objects and that claims about cultural ownership of objects are often tied up with a divisive identity politics.
The winning finalists from The Burgate School
The event was hosted at the inspiring Spark building at Solent University, with the university supplying several judges for the day who kept students on their toes throughout. Likewise, Debating Matters’ partners NATS – the UK’s leading provider of air traffic control services – contributed to the competition by sending individual and panel judges. This extensive interaction between partners, judges, and students constitutes one unique element of the Debating Matters competition, which puts students on the spot to develop and substantiate their arguments.
The judges awarded Joe Kirby of Bay House School & Sixth Form the prize of ‘Best Individual’ for his excellent debating and penetrating questions, with Samuel Alford Itchen Sixth Form College given ‘Highly Commended’ and Antonia Jones of Dauntsey’s School awarded ‘Commended’.
Joe Kirby of Bay House School & Sixth Form, receiving the Best Individual prize from Emma Lynch of NATS
NOTES
For further information about the event, the Debating Matters competition or to request photos or interviews with students, teachers, judges and other participants, please contact Jacob Reynolds on 020 7269 9231 or email jacob@theboi.co.uk
The students were all Year 12 and 13 sixth-form students from:
Alton College
Bay House School
The Burgate School
Dauntsey’s School
Itchen Sixth Form College
King Edward VI School
New College Swindon
St Swithun’s School
The Purbeck School
Created in 2002, Debating Matters is a national sixth-form debating competition for students from around the UK. DM offers a fresh, accessible and engaging format for debating contemporary real-world issues, with an emphasis on substance, not just style of debating, and the importance of taking ideas seriously.
