Junior Debating Finalists

Junior Debating has been particularly strong this year with consistent performances and insistent attitudes helping establish our school as a debating force to be reckoned with.

The final round in the Online School Competition took place on the first day of our most recent lockdown, and credit must go to our two teams who were able to maintain a calm and disciplined approach to their debate despite the uncertainty swirling around them.

Round 5 played out on Thursday 15th July with both teams taking the affirmative position on the topic ‘That television programs glorifying the military (e.g. SAS) should not be broadcast’. Drew Magtaka (Year 8), Stephanie Reynolds (Year 8) and Curtis McCoughtry (Year 9) faced off against Sirius College Eastmeadows 2, while our Year 7 team comprising of Jade Cowdery, Oscar Creak, and Ella Dowling took up the case against Hume Central Secondary College.

Both sides argued that while the military should be respected, it definitely should not be glorified. The more experienced side of Drew, Stephanie and Curtis were victorious and Drew was awarded Best Speaker for their debate, while our valiant Year 7 team were only just defeated in a very close decision.

After five rounds of debating, our Saint Ignatius 1 team actually finished on top of the ladder in D Grade, meaning that we proceed to the finals. This is a wonderful achievement and all students who debated for Saint Ignatius 1 are to be heartily congratulated.

Michael Tod  Junior Debating Coordinator