Victory bells are ringing at Howick College this week as the junior debating team celebrates its win at the Auckland Junior Debating tournament.
Year 10 Howick College students Ethan McCormick, Emily Bennett and Sophie Fooks competed against 16 teams to take home the top spot over the weekend.
Diocesan School for Girls, St Cuthbert’s and Sacred Heart College were among the teams they beat over the two day tournament to take home gold.
“We are proud of our talented team of articulate, sophisticated thinkers,” says English teacher Anne Botha who coordinates the Howick College debating teams.
“In the tournament their strength came from their ability to form and respond to arguments, as well as their openness to the feedback provided by adjudicators.”
She was impressed with how they worked as a team, reflecting on their performance and applying what they learned from each debate to the next one which enabled them to go from strength to strength during the tournament.
The debaters had to rely on only their general knowledge, critical thinking and speaking skills to sway the audience, with only one hour given to prepare for the case and no research allowed.
The team says it is thrilled with its success in the tournament, and enjoyed the challenge of this year’s debate.
