The pupils versus parents' debating evening was fabulous. After each formal debate the whole audience contributed with their views and opinions, challenging both debating sides. The pupils were exceptional: engaged, excited and articulate.
Adored #debating #parentsversuschildren @westbournehouseschool tonight with my middle one! What a #lifeskill Debating is! A wonderful tradition since the times of Ancient Greece! The current political scene might have been radically different if Remain had had Diodotus on its side! The art of #debate involves mastering skills of obvious intrinsic value: the confidence to speak in public, and make sense; the construction of a logical argument; the ability to read an audience’s reactions; and, perhaps most importantly, the willingness to hear others’ arguments, and to respond to them - so pleased my girls are learning these skills... #rare right there
Emma, parent, on Instagram
The debates were as follows:
Parents proposing: This House believes that school holidays are too long and year round education is better for everyone.
Pupils proposing: This House believes that all children in senior schools should have lessons in domesticity (learning how to cook, do their washing, cleaning a house and making beds, etc).
Pupils proposing: This House believes that manners matter.
The pupils won two out of the three debates. The pupils lost the debate of having lessons of domesticity in schools despite many convincing arguments including "The Daily Telegraph recently reported that if you can't cook you are 60% more likely to develop diabetes, heart disease and obesity."
This is a termly event which has now been going for three years. The evenings are always enjoyable and very sociable.
