House Debates, 1st Round

On the last Monday before the Christmas holiday the first of three rounds in the House Debating competition took place in the Senior School, with the Stanley facing the Wellesley and the Blucher against the Orange. The theme this time was ‘Spirituality’. Speaking alone in front of one’s peers, and being assessed by teachers, is a tremendously nerve-wracking thing to have to do and all participants acquitted themselves well.

In the Year 7-9 group, the Stanley proposed that religion was a force for good and the Wellesley argued against. There were strong arguments on both sides but the judges awarded the victory to the Stanley. In the second contest, the Blucher proposed that money was the root of all evil, with the Orange opposing, and by a single point the Orange carried it off.

Meanwhile in the Year 10-13 group, the Blucher proposed that organised religion had failed its believers. The Orange argued against, but a slightly better structure of argument gave the Blucher the points. And finally, the Stanley proposed abolishing the institution of marriage, but another very close fight saw the Wellesley, opposing, come out on top.

Initial signs are that this year’s competition is going to be very close indeed! The defending champions are the Wellesley, but there is so much new blood in every House team this year that anything may happen. The second round will take place in the final week of the Lent term…