Students enjoy success at debate contest

Some of South Coast Baptist College’s brightest young minds tasted success at the Western Australian Debating League regional debating competition on August 17.

The school fielded both senior and junior teams in the event, with the South Coast kids coming up trumps as two junior teams made it through to a grand final, while the senior team had success in their debate against local rival Frederick Irwin Anglican School. Students Manav Kumar and Shaylah Ryan also won individual awards during the competition, taking home awards for best speaker in the junior and senior divisions respectively.

South Coast Baptist College head of English James Trimble said each group had its own controversial topics of debate.

“The proposition for the jun-iors was that parents should have to acquire a licence to be able to have children — a somewhat controversial one,” Mr Trimble said.

“The seniors’ topic was that we should regret the positioning of sport as a central component of Australian identity.”

Student Jannah Teo said one of the toughest parts of debate was not being able to choose if you agreed or disagreed with a topic — you simply had to argue for or against the proposition you were set.

Fellow student Kate Wellburn said the best part of debating with other schools was the friendships born out of competition.

The debating competition also included Mandurah Baptist College, Mandurah Catholic College and Foundation Christian College.