Term 4 Debating Update
This term saw Cranbrook enter its final competition for 2023, the International Debating Championships (IDC). This competition draws debate teams mostly from Australasia, though we have also debated schools from the Middle East and Africa in past seasons. Somewhat ironically, our draw this season saw us only engage with one overseas school from Hong Kong, though this did not dampen the enthusiasm of students who simply cannot get enough of debating!
We fielded three junior teams and one senior team, with some outstanding results achieved. The debate topics were tougher than ever before, with teams tackling motions like “That we prefer a world where no one could hide their current true emotional state from others,” “That governments should lift patent protections on technologies that help (or will help, in the future) humans fight climate change,” and “That we should allow prisoners to volunteer for socially utile but undesirable activities in exchange for a lighter sentence (e.g. experimental drug trials, military service, hard labour).”
Cranbrook was represented by the following students:
- Cranbrook Team 1 – Ethan Goldberg, Marco Febo, Finn Dusseldorp, Peter Wang and Rahul Loomba
- Cranbrook Team 2 – Ishaan Jeena, William Dai, Joseph Moller and Thomas Stillone
- Cranbrook Team 3 – Henry Roberts, Henry Moore, Eric Mallam and Nathan Aspres
- Cranbrook Team 4 – Ty Imtarnasan, Cruz Mactavish, and Plai Garnjana-Goonchorn.
At the end of the four round preliminaries, Cranbrook had achieved an admirable scoreboard, especially Cranbrook Team 1. Although they sadly lost to Pymble (we often jest on Fridays that the journey to the north shore in traffic is passport worthy in its length) in the finals last week, Ethan, Marco, Finn, Peter and Rahul succeeded in ranking as ‘minor premiers’ in the preliminaries – the furthest we have gotten in this competition since its inception in 2020.
At the end of the four round preliminaries, Cranbrook had achieved an admirable scoreboard, especially Cranbrook Team 1. Although they sadly lost to Pymble (we often jest on Fridays that the journey to the north shore in traffic is passport worthy in its length) in the finals last week, Ethan, Marco, Finn, Peter and Rahul succeeded in ranking as ‘minor premiers’ in the preliminaries – the furthest we have gotten in this competition since its inception in 2020.
| Team | Round 1 | Round 2 | Round 3 | Round 4 |
| Cranbrook 1 | WIN | WIN | WIN | WIN |
| Cranbrook 2 | WIN | WIN | Loss | Loss |
| Cranbrook 3 | WIN | Loss | WIN | Loss |
| Cranbrook 4 | Loss | Loss | Loss | WIN |
Well done to all students who participated.
On Wednesday’s Whole School Assembly, the student leaders of the oratory triumvirate – Debating, Public Speaking, and Model UN – presented a tongue-in-cheek video promoting sign up for the coming season. The team is keen to capitalise on building momentum these past few seasons and the call to ‘join the cause’ so their future selves will thank them was put out to every Cranbrookian.
The benefits to getting involved with oratory programmes are numerous, though these can be condensed into six core areas that have been promoted to students this week:
- Amplify Your Voice – Develop the art of public speaking and effective communication that will set you apart in any field.
- Sharpen Critical Thinking – Engage in lively debates, where every argument refines your ability to think critically and express your ideas persuasively.
- Global Perspective – Model United Nations provides a unique opportunity to explore and understand complex international issues, fostering a global mindset.
- Forge Lifelong Connections – Build lasting friendships with like-minded individuals who share your enthusiasm for thoughtful discourse and global awareness.
- Strengthens your co-curricular credentials – Many oratory programmes can count towards your Duke of Edinburgh and towards your IBDP CAS commitment.
- University and Career Readiness – The skills you acquire will not only impress universities here and overseas, but also prepare you for success in any future career path.
Students have since received the above and links to signing up to or expressing interest in a range of co-curricular offerings via email. You can see details of each one in the table below:
| Oratory Offering | When Held | Duration | Eligible Students |
| Competition Debating | Year 7 trials 3.30-8.00pm Friday 2nd February, Years 8-9 trials 8am-12pm Sunday 4th February, Years 10-12 trials 11am-2.30pm Sunday 4th February | If selected, debaters will compete for Terms 1, 2 and the first half of Term 3; those who don’t make a team can sign up for social debating in mid-February | Any student may trial for a competition team. It is recommended new students complete the preparation tasks sent to them |
| Public Speaking | Mondays 3.30-5.30pm | Semester 1, Terms 1-2 Semester 2 sign up will come out in June | Any student keen to develop their speech writing and speaking skills |
| Model UN | Lunchtime session options on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays | Semester 1, Terms 1-2 Semester 2 sign up will come out in June | Years 8-12 students |
| Mooting | Every second Thursday 3.45-5.45pm | Semester 1, Terms 1-2 Semester 2 sign up will come out in June | Years 10-12 students |
| Mock Trial | Every other Thursday 3.45-5.45pm | Terms 1-3 Term 4 2024 into 2025 sign up will come out in August | Years 10-11 students for competition (Year 9 students are invited to observe in 2024) |
Please note that it is the responsibility of students to sign up for these exciting opportunities via the links provided in this week’s email. Sign up and expressions of interest close Wednesday 6th December.
This week, students presently involved in Debating, Public Speaking and Model UN (and their parents) received an email with information about an exciting international tour to the USA in the 2024 September-October school holidays.
The tour will be our first international journey and there are many highlights included, like visiting the UN Headquarters in New York, participating in immersive simulations on global crises at the International Spy Museum in Washington DC, and engaging with knowledgeable speakers on a range of significant political matters. Opportunities to debate on US soil will further connect Cranbrookians to the world at large.
The parent version of the email contains a link for expressing interest in their child going on this tour. The link closes 6pm this Sunday 26th November. If there are sufficient numbers to make this tour viable, we will reach out to those who expressed interest to invite them to an online information evening before the end of term.
Should you or your child have any further questions about Cranbrook Debating, Public Speaking, or Model UN in 2024, you are welcome to reach out to me as Debating Coordinator at bsmith@cranbrook.nsw.edu.au. In the first instance, I encourage students to be the ones to make contact.