Speaking to the People
Mustering the courage to articulate oneself successfully when faced with a room full of wide-eyed students is by no means an easy task. Yet on a regular basis, SACS students take up the challenge. As convening school for the Independent Schools Debating Association (ISDA), St Andrew’s has witnessed an increase in the profile of debating and oratory in recent years. Students have represented the School in a plethora of events; Model United Nations functions, School’s days at the University of Sydney and the University of NSW, and of course in the ISDA, with the steadily ascending Year 7 team, consisting of Andrew McCulloch, Sam Hutchinson, Joey Watson and James Beard, making it into the finals. Coached by the proficient Old Andrean, Alex Dore, the team is just one of those within the School that shows a promising future.
This year has also seen the introduction of SACS participation in Model United Nations programme, where pressing world issues are debated through a challenging mock forum held at the Nan Tien temple. Our teams have represented the school at a range of Model United Nations including St Catherine’s School Waverley, Rotary and the United Nations Youth Association. Students involved in these events include: Patrick Madden, Sam Donnelly, Meredith Grey, Zain Ahmed, Alex Green, Helen Neale, and Chris Davies.
The culmination of oratory events at SACS was marked by the outstanding victory of Winchester in the House Debating Competition on Tuesday 18th August, as they argued their way into Dean Pitt Shield history. The debate was well argued by both teams and an excellent adjudication was made by the adjudication panel comprising of: Mr Paul McCallum, Zain Ahmed and Sam Donnelly.
Participation in Debating and Oratory activities provide skills that students are able to employ in all aspects of their lives, and those involved develop to become articulate, confident and logical speakers and thinkers.
