ACG Strathallan girls argue their way to the top

ACG Strathallan students Ashley Varney, Phoebe Cowdell-Murray and Hannah Senior beat 23 other Auckland schools to win the Junior Premier Grade Debating Competition last month. 

Both Ashley and Phoebe have also won places on the ‘Top Speaker List’ and will be receiving individual awards when the trophy is presented at the beginning of next term.

The girls are not only accomplished speakers, but also great at thinking quickly under time pressure. The debates are ‘impromptu’, so they had only a one-hour preparation time after being told whether they were negating or affirming.

The debate involved each person getting up and speaking for approximately six minutes, during which time the other team may challenge the speaker.

Year 11 student Ashley says, “It is really amazing. We’ve worked hard for months right through the competition and it feels like it has all paid off.” Phoebe adds, “We were all holding hands just before the announcement was made and although we knew we had a chance at winning, it was still a huge shock. We’re still buzzing!”

This grade is the most competitive grade and the competition itself went for several months. It involved around ten debates in the general competition after which the top eight teams went on to the quarterfinals.

The moot for the final was “This house would prohibit unions from taking strike action”. Previous topics included whaling, boxing, drinking and blood donations.

Executive Principal, Robin Kirkham, is extremely proud of the girls. “The skills of debating are ones that will stay with these girls for life.  Their success will inspire others and help to make debating a major strength at ACG Strathallan.”