50p
Don’t Hate, Debate!
The Debate and Public Speaking program at Brentwood is one of the largest arts in the school, with over a hundred students involved. It has played a huge role in forwarding Brentwood’s tripartite focus for over fifty years, and has had a successful history with two National Championships and regular participation in prestigious international competitions.
The program also plays a big part in discussing important campus topics, as well as broadening students’ perspectives by making them research and debate about current national and international issues. Kameel A, Privett ‘23 said that “Since joining the program in grade nine, [he has] become a far more socially and politically aware person.” For Kameel, and so many like him, debate has been a place to grow, as well as a way to think.
This past week, with the Canadian election taking place, the focus was on electoral systems in Canada. After grouping up and researching the different possibilities, teams of three debated about whether the country should remain with the current First Past the Post system, or replace it with a new alternative. Each team presented their points and fought hard to defend their stance, assessing the effects that the electoral system would have on minority representation, the ease of implementation, the legitimacy of the results, and the potential biases that it could create.
For nearly the past two years, the world of debate has looked very different with COVID-19. Tournaments come with a unique set of challenges when done over Zoom, and the participants have had to adapt. Lucinda G, Allard ‘22 said “Although the program definitely feels like it’s missing something without in-person tournaments, we have made the most of the situation through Zoom tournaments and also more practice rounds within our own club.” Lucinda is one of the Captains of the Debate program and has worked to make everyone’s experience in the program just as interesting and beneficial as it was prior to the pandemic.
Sebastian M, Privett ‘22
The program also plays a big part in discussing important campus topics, as well as broadening students’ perspectives by making them research and debate about current national and international issues. Kameel A, Privett ‘23 said that “Since joining the program in grade nine, [he has] become a far more socially and politically aware person.” For Kameel, and so many like him, debate has been a place to grow, as well as a way to think.
This past week, with the Canadian election taking place, the focus was on electoral systems in Canada. After grouping up and researching the different possibilities, teams of three debated about whether the country should remain with the current First Past the Post system, or replace it with a new alternative. Each team presented their points and fought hard to defend their stance, assessing the effects that the electoral system would have on minority representation, the ease of implementation, the legitimacy of the results, and the potential biases that it could create.
For nearly the past two years, the world of debate has looked very different with COVID-19. Tournaments come with a unique set of challenges when done over Zoom, and the participants have had to adapt. Lucinda G, Allard ‘22 said “Although the program definitely feels like it’s missing something without in-person tournaments, we have made the most of the situation through Zoom tournaments and also more practice rounds within our own club.” Lucinda is one of the Captains of the Debate program and has worked to make everyone’s experience in the program just as interesting and beneficial as it was prior to the pandemic.
Sebastian M, Privett ‘22