JOHN SMITH
MEMORIAL MACE
CHINA SPEAKS!
The ESU, with its reputation for
delivering ground-breaking public
speaking and debate training in more
than 50 countries, recently embarked
on an exciting new pilot project in
China. Working with the British Council
and the China National Committee
for the Wellbeing of the Youth (CNC),
an ESU delegation spent a week in
Beijing training over students and
teachers in preparation for a widespread
competition to be held in February 2014.
Akash Mukerji, one of the
ESU mentors leading the training,
commented “this new project in
China is an exciting opportunity to
promote the work of the ESU into new
territories. The opportunity to develop
this competition is as exciting as it is
important to the future of the students
involved. The education system in
China understands the value of effective
communication in English, and China
Speaks! is the best way to deliver training
across the country.”
SSE
In September, 20 schools from all
over the UK were pleased to welcome
their SSE scholars from across the pond
for the 2013-14 academic year. The
ESU is delighted to have so many host
boarding schools this year, including
Dollar Academy, in Scotland, Llandovery
College, in Wales, Clifton College and
Wells Cathedral School in the South
West and The Royal School and Cobham
Hall a little closer to London. We
were also pleased to welcome the US
scholars to a special Thanksgiving event
in Dartmouth House, in November.
Applications for UK students to spend
their gap year at a US High School are
now open – please see www.esu.org/sse
for further details.
On Saturday 23 and Sunday 24
November, 56 teams of prestigious
universities from all over the UK
competed in the England leg of the
John Smith Memorial Mace which is
one of the largest and most prestigious
debating competitions in the world. The
John Smith Memorial Mace is an official
Parliament Week event. This year’s theme
celebrated women’s contribution to
democratic life in the UK and explored
how women’s voices can be better
heard. The final day comprised a panel
discussion with speaker Anita Anand (BBC
Presenter), Natalie Bennett (Leader of
the Green Party), Laura Bates (Everyday
Sexism Project), Rosie Campbell (Politics
Lecturer), Rainbow Murray (Lecturer at
Queen Mary University) and the Rt Hon
Lord McNally Minister of State for Justice.
This year’s winners of the England
leg will represent England in the
International final. The ESU is grateful for
Baillie Gifford’s generous support which
allowed teams who haven’t participated
before to take part and win prizes.
NEWS
LEADERSHIP EVENT
GENERAL T QUINTAS
In its effort to promote leadership
and support young people wishing to
make a difference in their communities,
the ESU organised an event on 3 July
2013 at King’s Place London. The current
US Defence Attaché to the UK, Brigadier
General John T. Quintas spoke to a select
group of students about his experiences
of leadership in the US military.
US-UK TEACHERS’ TEA
In July, the ESU’s Walter Hines
Page’s Scholars gathered at Dartmouth
House to meet 24 visiting teachers from
the US, the Globe Education team, and
the new president of the National Union
of Teachers, Beth Davies. UK teachers
who have received the Walter Hines
Page Scholarships are now preparing to
complete their research trips to America
in 2013-14. Research topics include the
status of the supply teacher, the ‘global
dimension’ in primary schools, literacy,
and provision for excluded students. In
partnership with ESU-US, scholars look
forward to staying with ESU branches
across America.
US-UK Teachers tea Page Scholar Rosie Kelly,
NUT President Beth Davies, and BUSS Scholar
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