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There is a strong tradition of debate in British schools. This is true of the public schools and the prep schools endevor to provide debating experiences to the students so they are prepared to debate in theor public schools. The schools use some time in their English classes working on debate. Debates are staged at various times in the school day. Many schools have as debating society for children especially interested in debate.
We have had two debates this year. The hotly contested motions involved te questin as to whether the Common Entrance Exam should be abolished and that all men were created equal. Both debates provoked lively invective and it was encouraging that so many childrenfrom the middle school wished to attend. Both motions were defeated. Tanks are extended to all staff who offered to debate and to Ashfold School who arranged the second debate on their home territory. We hope to have a visit from them next year, perhaps. Thanks are also due to Charles Stopford, the secretary, who wrote down all the minutes.
WH, The School Record Beachborough School, September 1979.
The society met twice this term. 16th October: This House believes that the advent of supermarket is the death knell of the English village. 6th December: This House believes that the House of Lords should be abolished. Two keenly contested debates have been listened to this term.
Ali Clabburn and Ben Reynolds spoke eloquently nd confidently in support of the English village being kept very much as it was yesterday! Philip Webster and Angus Newby Grant, baffled at times by their oppositin's attack and confused in their argument succumbed to a heavy and deserved defet. Well done Ali especially. Thomas Leveritt chaired the debate.
At the end of term, the second debate was opened by Thomas Leveritt, speaking against the Lords; this was the best speech of the season, ell prepared (given the constraints on all the children at Beeston), well executed and well defended. Terry van Poortvliet gave able support. Campbell Coe (marvellously witty and deliberately slowing the tempo) and Chris Rose knew they had the support of the House. An easy victory for the retention of the Lords. Ali Clabburn was in the chair.
Well done the audience at both debates. Debating Cup: Yhomas Leveritt and Ali Clabburn.
JE, Surge (Beeston Hall), Autumn 1988.
The Debating Society held debates every Wednesday at 7.00. The subjects we debated ranged from the "Bermuda Triangle" to "Race Relations Problems"> We usually tried to have two main speakers, for the motion and against. We were lucky in tht many of the staff willingly gave up their evenings to speak with us. Occassionaly we held a special night and had a game using speeches. The two main ones we had were a "Balloon Night" and a "Hat Night". These were great fun and usually involved people who didn't normally brace the floor, the idea being to try and get completely new speakers. At the end of thde spring term we were hoping to have a "Letter Night", but due to illness , not only among the boys, but our Chairman was also ill, this was cancelled. In all our debates we have had people who have been guaranteed to raise some good points. At the end of the Christmas termwe held the annual "Speechmaking Competition". This is open to anyone. They have to speakon their own preoard subject of any choice for no more than two minutes. The finalists, usually five or six, then have to speakon an unseen topic chosen by the chairman. The subject this year was "Black Magic", not as awkward a one as last year which was "Scotch Mist". The winner was Stephen Morgan; I think the judges Messrs Moult, Welham and Miss Cullen, had a pretty hard task deciding, and he only won by half a mark. We would like to thank Miss Foster (chairman) who organised the society, and hope that Mr Moult will be chairman and continue to run the society next year.
Jonathan Vaughan, 11.8, The Bramcote Magazine, Autumn 1978
