CONCERN DEBATING
Here at Sacred Heart we are delighted once again to be involved in the Concern Debating Competition for the 2020-21 academic year. However, due to Covid 19, and social distancing restrictions, this year’s competition will be held virtually. Schools will not be travelling for debates, and adjudicators will not be marking debates in schools. Speeches will now be filmed and sent to Concern and adjudicators results and feedback will be returned to the school.
Our first debate took place against Laurel Hill, Limerick. Our videos of the individual speakers were sent to Concern on Tuesday November 3rd. The students spoke with passion and conviction as they opposed the motion “The WHO’s handling of Covid 19 is unfair and irresponsible”. Well done to the girls on securing a unanimous win for Sacred Heart.
The speakers ,as seen below ,included Captain/ Speaker 1 ,Aoibhe Daly, Speaker 2 ,Claire Cunningham, Speaker 3 ,Lucy Hodnett, and Speaker 4, Lucy Mc Carthy.
Other members of this year’s team, as seen below, include Orla Moroney, Sabine Cullinane, Chrstabel Bickley and Nooran Alrubaye.These students are involved in research and the recording of speeches.
It is important to note the benefits of debating to our students.These include:
Gaining broad, multi-faceted knowledge cutting across several disciplines outside the learner’s normal academic subjects.
Increasing learners’ confidence, poise, and self-esteem.
Providing an engaging, active, learner-centered activity.
Improving rigorous higher-order and critical thinking skills.
Enhancing the ability to structure and organise thoughts.
Enhancing learners’ analytical, research and note-taking kills
Improving learners’ ability to form balanced, informed arguments and to use reasoning and evidence.
Developing effective speech composition and delivery.
Encouraging teamwork.
The students are presently preparing for their next debate against Holy Child Secondary School, Dublin. The motion for this debate , which the students will oppose ,is “To tackle income inequality, billionaires should not exist.”This debate will take place in December.
Well done to all the students on their commitment to this debating programme.