28th May 2024 | News & Events
Debating Update
On Wednesday evening on the 15th of May, our year 10 + 1 year 9 team debated St Kevins in a secret topic round. This involves teams receiving the topic on the night and having an hour to deliberate and construct arguments with only 5 people present in a small room – no teachers or parents allowed! The surprise topic presented to teams was, ‘The government should implement a screen time limit for children.’ Fitzroy High had bold and confident Lily as first Affirmative; measured and articulate Anna as second, and passionate and considered Anya as third. On the side-lines, constructing arguments, were Leo and Issy. In the affirmative space, Lily began by arguing that children’s screen time contributes to significant mental health issues for children; Anna advocated for the idea that excessive screen use without limitations leads to over consumerism and waste accumulating in landfill, whereas Anna reiterated the point that children do not have the ability or maturity to monitor their own screen time, and that a limit is absolutely not a ban, as their opposition was suggesting. Fitzroy delivered a logical and structured set of arguments and rebuttals, with main feedback focusing on improving manner, however, this did not stop our team from winning, with special regard to Anna, who was awarded best speaker! Well done Fitzroy debaters!
