Oratory Article
Competition Debating
This Friday 16th February marks the commencement of the 2024 competition for the Independent Schools Debating Association (ISDA). Those students involved will be training and then debating St Andrew’s Cathedral School here at Cranbrook:
- Years 7-9 ISDA debate 6.30pm, finishing by 7.30pm
- Years 10-12 ISDA debate 7.30pm, finishing by 9.00pm
Spectators are most welcome for this week’s ISDA debates. All ISDA debates will be held out of Level 4 of the Vicars Centenary Building, with best access via the Rose Bay Avenue pedestrian gate. Our Eastside Years 11 and 12 teams will be training and watching the ISDA debates, also finishing by 9.00pm.
Pre-season debates online against James Ruse are scheduled for Years 7-10 Eastside teams, with those groups finishing by 7.30pm. There will be no spectators for these debates.
A reminder that all Years 7-9 debaters must be collected by a parent or guardian at the end of the night from the Rose Bay Avenue pedestrian gate.
Social and Legal Debating
Social Debating begins 3.30pm this Thursday 15th February for students who signed up and completed the student agreement form. Students involved with train with their coach, prep and then debate, finishing at 5.30pm. Social Debating is closed to spectators, and parents collecting their son at the end can do so from the Rose Bay Avenue pedestrian gate.
Also starting this Thursday 15th February is our Mock Trial group. Students who previously signed up will meet from 3.30-5.30pm to learn more about the process of Mock Trial and receive introductory guidance on the competition, which commences soon. Mock Trial will run every Thursday Week A, alternating with Mooting every Thursday Week B.
Public Speaking
The 2024 Public Speaking group met for the first time this Monday afternoon. There was a palpable energy in the room, encouraged by the magnificent introduction work by our student Head of Public Speaking, Piers Alcott.
Students received insight into the direction of the programme, which will engage them in a wide range of speaking contexts that includes: traditional speeches, panels, podcasting, television-style hosting, and more. The interactive focus of this opening session got off to an excellent start, with students working in groups to identify the qualities of great presenting and conducting minute-wonder impromptus on personal interests.
Supporting the students this semester will be coach Luisa, who has an esteemed background in public speaking. She will join us in the coming fortnight, and I look forward to bringing you updates on her Monday afternoon sessions.
Model United Nations
This week, students involved with our Model UN lunchtime sessions launched into the first of two weeks of debate over the question of violent civil war in Sudan between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and a number of other actors. A most current issue impacting the African continent, students received video tuition and a fact sheet provided by our Model UN coach, Jack, and then selected a country to represent on the mock Security Council.
Debates have been held in the appropriately round-tabled Nugent Boardroom, where junior and senior students have cooperated and respectfully disagreed on how to best deal with the crisis. It has been especially pleasing to witness some of our new members dive into the deep end of debates and spar with some of the more experienced MUN students!
Upcoming oratory events
- ISDA Competition Debating R2 vs St Catherine’s (away) next Friday 23rd February
- Eastside Competition Debating pre-season vs Reddam (away) also next Friday 23rd February
Contact
Should you or your son have any further questions about any of Cranbrook’s oratory programmes, you are welcome to reach out to the Head of Oratory and Student Journalism, Mr Benjamin Smith, at bsmith@cranbrook.nsw.edu.au. In the first instance, students should be making contact about getting involved.
Essential information and highlights for parents will be posted here on Cranbrook Connect as part of the Thursday Link. Students involved in oratory programmes will receive updates via their respective Canvas or TEAMS channels.
Benjamin Smith
Head of Oratory and Student Journalism