Our A grade debating champions
Scotch has triumphed in the Debating Association of Victoria Schools Competition, coming through as 2017 A grade champions in what is the largest English language debating competition in the world.
This year, approximately 350 A grade teams from across Victoria began the season with the hope of becoming state champions. Of course, only one team was fated to triumph, and the Scotch team of five exceptional Year 12 lads – Gabriel Dartnell, William Pascoe, Pierre Rodgers, William Sutherland and James Tarrant – took out the title.
The team began the Hawthorn regional rounds with high hopes. Incisive reasoning and responsiveness to the demands of different topics saw Scotch finish with a 5-0 regional record, earning it entry into the finals.
In the finals, Scotch was pitted against the very best from around Victoria in a knockout competition. Although the teams Scotch competed against were exceptional in their own right, they proved to be no match for our lads’ rhetoric. Success in the finals brought Scotch to the brink of ultimate success: the State Grand Final against Melbourne Grammar School.
The grandeur of Caulfield Grammar’ s Cripps Centre was an appropriate setting for a clash between two heavyweights. Although there were some understandable nerves, the lads were quietly confident that their ability to work as a team would see them prevail. After a coin toss to decide who would take the affirmative and negative cases, Scotch was given the task of preparing the negative case for the proposition,‘ That we should not encourage young people to pursue their dream jobs if it comes at the expense of their financial security’.
Scotch was not only able to extol the virtues of imbuing young people with the belief that they could attain their goals, but won the debate on its ability to argue the practical benefits of its side of the case. In a decision handed down by a panel of five adjudicators, Scotch proved victorious.
The work of the coach, Manning Clifford – a former state and national debater – was integral to the team’ s success. Given the quality of the team members, Scotch can expect to hear of their future success in university competitions. JAMIE MARTIN – ENGLISH TEACHER
( LEFT TO RIGHT) WILLIAM PASCOE, PIERRE RODGERS, WILLIAM SUTHERLAND, JAMES TARRANT, GABRIEL DARTNELL
www. scotch. vic. edu. au Great Scot 43