Lily-Rose Mooney, Tyler Smith, Tilly Coleman and Jax Smart from Gundagai Public School’s Gold debating team have come out on top of the Regional knockout rounds against Young Public School in the Premier’s Debating Challenge.
Last week, Gundagai Public School’s Gold debating team took on Young Public School in the first stage of the Regional Knockout rounds – and came away with a fantastic win, which means they finished at the top of the Zone.
The team of Lily-Rose Mooney, Tyler Smith, Tilly Coleman and Jax Smart successfully argued that ‘schools should not make their top students spend one afternoon per week helping a struggling classmate’.
Sally Wheaton, Debating Coordinator said the team will now progress to the elimination stage.
“They did really well. Young was high quality competition; it was the hardest competition we’ve had so far. But the response was really well structured, with good arguments, and they are doing really well.”
“It is a tricky thing to do, they have to prep by themselves and are given an hour from finding out the topic and then finding out if they are for or against the opic to prepare, and then have to write their rebuttal as the debate is happening, which is a tricky thing to learn how to do.”
“We have been part of the competition at the school for probably the past 7 years now, and we continue to go from strength to strength and we take part in several public speaking competitions and in terms of what we do in the classroom, we develop persuasive writing and things like that, all those skills come through to help the kids when they are actually in these types of competitions,” Sally said.
“We find it really valuable. It is a teamwork thing and a super exciting process to be a part of. I am super proud of these kids, and it is a real testament to their hard work,” Sally said.
The competition eventually goes on to state level. In the initial stages, the Riverina is separated into 8 different zones, and Gundagai Public School finished top of the Zone against other schools including Tumbarumba, Tumut, Ladysmith and Lake Albert.
The Premier’s Debating Challenge is open to all students in years 5-12 at a NSW public school, with the aim of developing public speaking and reasoning skills of students.
– Emily Flint
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