Blyth Academy Burlington students participate in global debate competition

Once a year, Globeducate Debates gives students aged 10 to 18 in Globeducate schools the opportunity to pitch their ideas against an opposing team in another Globeducate school in another country. Between June 13th and 17th 2022, a team of Blyth Academy Burlington students took part in the annual student debate competition.

This challenging and dynamic international competition for students launched during the pandemic in 2021 and proved "inspiring" and "thought-provoking" with students of all ages and their teachers. Globeducate schools from Canada, France, Portugal, Spain and the UK worked together in their teams, in four age group sections.

“The Globeducate debate was a great opportunity for me to hone my skills as a debater. I feel like I learned so much debating against international competitors. Since these debates allowed me to encounter other perspectives, I feel so much more well-versed in the world of debating. I’ve always enjoyed debate, and the Globeducate debate has given me an opportunity to debate on an international level.”

Will H., Blyth Academy Burlington student participant

“I have always enjoyed debating and finding myself in charge of Blyth Academy Burlington’s team, have found that my students enjoy it too. After debating with each other for a couple of years, we found that we were developing habits of debating, getting comfortable with the format and we were ready for the new challenge. We were thrilled to have an opportunity to display our skills and to develop new ones through the amazing Globeducate debating community. Whether the insightful comments from alumni and teachers or the fresh well-researched comments of our opponents, everyone was able to grow and take so much away from the experience. I can't wait to do this again next year!”

Anna Lilliman, Blyth Academy teacher and debate team leader

This year, topics in the international Globeducate Debates schools competition included:

• Gender inequality has not been solved, it has just changed
• The best way to prepare for the future is to study the past
• Seventy years on, the UN is a disappointment
• Video games teach children to be violent
• Social media has improved human communication
• Beauty pageants should be banned
• Cloning of humans is inevitable in the future
• The Paris Agreement is no longer relevant
• Electric cars are impractical
• Homework promotes learning
• Eating meat should be banned

Some debates were judged by alumna of Stonar, Chiara Aylett, and a member of our Global Advisory Board, Professor Mick Waters. They both provided valuable feedback to our students.

Ivan, Debating Teacher from Agora Madrid International School, said: "As a public speaking teacher, I consider these kinds of events are essential and it's why I enjoy preparing our students to face future situations such as debates, lectures or interviews. Aside from developing their oratory skills, this event also contributed to develop our students´ critical thinking through several hotly debated matters. To be honest, it was moving to see my students passionately research and debate as a team. We look forward to participating again next year."

More than ever, students graduating school need to be educated about the hot topics society faces now and tomorrow, and they need to know how to use their voice for good. We live in momentous times and the pace of change in all aspects of life is always increasing. Globeducate Debates is one of many international events that helps to prepare each student to be a global citizen who can shape the world.
Thank you to all of those students participating this week and to the jury members and chair-people all helping to make this a valuable event for our young people. Each team consists of four participants who can take on the roles of speaker and/or researchers.

As a Globeducate school, Blyth Academy Burlington offers chances to students to get involved with inter-school, international events such as Globeducate Debates, as well as other international events such as Model United Nations and the Globeducate Academic Olympics.

To learn more about Globeducate click here.