Our First Debate

In Week 5 of Term 2 , 2011 Mr Yates informed us that we would be having a debate in Week 7. He told us the topic : should two new elephants be brought to Auckland Zoo and kept in captivity ? We had until the end of the week to research elephants in captivity and choose what side we were on. Our initial opinions before research ideally had to be 50/50 otherwise there would be not enough people in one team and too many in the other. We had one week to research and begin making our assertions. The pressure was on!

After one week of research, Mr Yates took a count of who was on which side and who was speaking. The teams were even so that was good. After much thinking, the teams were decided. The opposers (who were against the motion that the elephants should be brought to Auckland Zoo) in speaking order, were Sasha Khurana, Serena Westerlund, Rudadiso Nyamazana, Jasmine Fowler, Dharia Bearda and Jaime Swale. The proposers (who were for the motion) in speaking order were Abhinav Singh, Bailey Sanders, Kobe Naden, Taylor-Paige Pou, Joshua Shields and Connor Newall. So we combined our research with our awesome writing skills and put it all into paragraphs. Very quickly the time to show off our skills came.

Week 7, Thursday 16th June. After morning tea, the speakers and chairperson Ella Fletcher took their chairs and speeches up to the front of the front of the classroom and the debate started. Ella introduced the opposing and proposing sides and stated the issue. The first speakers gave their speeches, then the second, then the third and fourth speakers. After the fifth speakers there was a break. In the break, the audience could ask the speakers questions, and a lot of pressure was put on them. Our top questioners were Jakob Blow, Abigail Yiu and Olivia Harwood. The house speakers could ask the proposers and opposers questions. Then the last speakers, Jaime and Connor gave the most powerful speeches. Everyone was saying 'Hear, hear!" Finally, it was time for the vote. As Mr Yates read out the votes there were both cheers and awkward silences. Finally, the last vote was called... the result was... 10-4 to the opposers! 

So, the majority of the class think that elephants should NOT be kept in captivity and should not be brought to Auckland Zoo. It had been a great debate linked to a subject that had been written about widely in the national press. We hope to have more in the near future!

By Jaime Swale and Dharia Bearda
Kea 2 Students

What is a debate?

Definition of a Debate:

A debate is a formal discussion on a particular topic in a public meeting or legislative assembly, in which opposing arguments are put forward. 

June 2011 What You'll Find On this Blog

On this blog we'll be writing about those memorable one-off events and happenings that we feel are worthy of a write-up. Special school events, noteworthy successes, notable class events like debates and some particularly good examples of work done.

We hope you will find something to interest you and trust that you will enjoy sharing with us some of our Kea 2 and The Gardens experiences.

Richard Yates