Photos & Results: School Debate Tournament

November 27, 2015

The Bermuda Junior Service League and the Bermuda Debate Society announced the results of the 26th Annual Secondary Schools Debate Tournament.

The Tournament saw 19 teams from 8 schools – a total of 57 debaters – participate in the 3 round all-day competition assisted by coaches, speakers and timers, 43 volunteer judges, and with supportive friends and family in attendance.

The Prepared Motion for the Senior School was “This House would ban the use of nuclear energy” while the Middle School debated “This House would require Bermuda’s students to study a foreign language from the age of 5”. The 3rd Round Impromptu Motion for all was “This House would ban animal testing for cosmetic products”.

After 3 hotly contested rounds, the Finals came down to BHS versus DDL [Dynamic Debaters & Learners] in the Senior School, and BHS versus Warwick Academy in the Middle School. In both final debates, BHS emerged victorious with unanimous decisions.

The overall Senior School Winner was Team BHS [Megan Sutcliffe, William Campbell, & Namrata Bisht] for the 2nd straight year, with Team DDL [Yassir Baia, Riley Mason, & Asha Simonds] taking Senior School Runner Up honours.

The overall Middle School Winner was BHS [Cree Dunn, Cerra Simmons, & Sophia Marsh] with Warwick Academy [Katarina Thompson, Noah DaSilva, & Daniel Maske] awarded Middle School Runner Up honours.

Head Judge for the Senior Final, Dr. David Saul, delivered the results, advising the debaters that developing their listening skills was just as important, if not more so, than developing their speaking skills.

“The first Secondary Schools Debate Tournament was held in 1989 – a community service project launched by the BJSL under President Victoria Cox. The Project’s Mission Statement was to provide a forum in which all secondary school students island wide could come together & participate in non-athletic competition,” a spokesperson said.

“The Bermuda Debate Society, founded in 1990 and 25 year partner in the Tournament, is charged with promoting and fostering the art of debate island-wide through education and the organization of related activities.

“The BDS welcomes new members of all ages with an interest in participating in and/or supporting debate. Information is available on the website www.debate.bm or by emailing bermuda.debate.society@gmail.com.

“Thousands of students and judges have participated in the Tournament in its 26 year history; many have represented Bermuda in international competition, all have taken away skills that benefit them in school and later in life. Many past debaters are now involved with debate in Bermuda and overseas as coaches and judges.

“The BJSL and BDS are very grateful to all who participated and volunteered their time to make the Tournament such a great success. The next tournament will be the annual Spring Tournament scheduled for February 2016, co-hosted by Saltus Grammar School & BHS, & all are invited to participate.”