Debating
and PublicSpeaking
While we may not engage in debating or public speaking daily, the activity provides an opportunity for students to develop essential skills. Indeed, the ability to synthesise arguments, diffuse rapidly escalating situations and establish and expand critical thinking skills are inherent to the sport.
These skills are vital and will prove to be more impactful in the future, allowing students to establish their reasoning and advocacy ability to tackle the problems of our increasingly globalised world. It is fair to say that 2020 has been an interesting year at the College, and for debating and public speaking, it has been a year of firsts. Contending with the unreliability of technology, all debates and public speaking competitions were held via video conferencing software this year such as Google Meet and Zoom, however, such barriers have in no way diminished the integral place of debating and public speaking in the Mazenod College community. Under the stewardship of Ms Caird, 2020 has been a year of outstanding successes from across all year levels. Three of our teams (Years 10 -12) have made it through to the Debating Association of Victoria State Finals; two teams qualified for the Octo Finals and the Year 10 team made it through to the Quarter Finals. We also congratulate Mateo Acosta Fernandez for winning a coveted Swannie Award, which recognises the best speakers in the region in 2020. This places all three teams in the top 1% of teams competing in the state. Mazenod has also won both the ACC Intermediate Debating and Public Speaking Competitions. We must also acknowledge the success of the Year 7 team of 2019, who won the Junior ACC Public Speaking Competition. The Junior Competition is held in November of each year, thus results are reflected in the following year’s report. In June, Mateo Acosta-Fernadez and I participated in the Plain English Speaking Competition. Being the only school to have two participants advance to the State semi
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finals was a memorable experience. With the topic, ‘Why Video Games are Art’ Mateo’s humorous and energetic speech earned him a spot in the State finals, the first time a Mazenod student has progressed to this stage. As I begin to wind down my tenure as the Debating and Public Speaking Captain of 2020 I want to thank all of my fellow debaters and the staff that have so generously volunteered their lunchtimes and Thursday evenings to watch us debate only the most scintillating of topics. A special thanks to Mr Harrington, Mr Convery, Mr Spasic, Mrs Sharrock, Mr Tranter and Ms Giacco for her postdebate mints and heart-warming encouragement. I also must acknowledge the commitment of Ms Caird who has shepherded us all on our debating journeys. It is with great admiration and respect that I thank her for her tireless dedication to debating and public speaking at Mazenod College and for teaching us all that success is its own reward. Over 40 students participated in the program from Years 7 to 12 in 2020, which is the largest number of students participating in the College’s history and the future for Debating and Public Speaking at Mazenod is looking like a bright one. I want to wish the best of luck for all the debating teams for next year and encourage new members to seize the opportunity while you can. Noah Andrews Public Speaking and Debating Captain 2020
