Debating

The new SJPC Debating team have had a positive experience affirming the high regard that the student body has for the debating process.

Debating is a formalised process of discussion that helps students take on whatever life throws at them, both in the classroom and in life.

Debating is not just about being able to speak well - it’s about learning to embrace a wide variety of arguments. The process forces participants to respect the other side of an argument and question one's own opinion. Debating helps develop critical thinking skills, making students curious about new ideas while also retaining some scepticism, developing empathy and building a healthy attitude to questioning. 

Debating means students embrace many and varied topics, making them more politically and socially aware and better able to connect and relate both socially and in the workplace. This empathy is an important life skill, as is the confidence to speak and communicate.

Stage 4 students signed up in droves and there were enough students to create two teams to compete in the Catholic Schools Debating Association CSDA regional competition at the end of Term 3. 

Congratulations to Aditya Bhatia, Alice Martin, Jocelyn Maybury, Harry Mitchell, Georgia Pierce, Amrita Sandhu, Hunter Sawaya, Henry Shepherd and Gabriel Wark who will be bringing their enthusiasm and expertise to the competition.

Stage 5 students have also been positive and have enough students for a very strong team. They will also compete at the end of Term 3. 

Congratulations to John Hughes, Koko Nichols, Claire Plummer and Alexandra Nealand. 

Cherie O’Brien has taken over the leadership role of the team bringing with her a wealth of experience leading several schools in debating championships.