Buckie High debating team make history by reaching national finals
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A TEAM from Buckie Community High School have made history by reaching the finals of a UK debating competition.
George Wallace (S5), Isla Wilson and Hannah Cowie (S6) won the right to feature in the final of the John Stuart Mill Cup where they went up against some of the brightest young people in the country after triumphing in the Scottish heat of the contest.
The competition is run by the University of St Andrew's.
A chance mention of was to set the trio on the road to the final, as Hannh revealed.
"Mr Clelland [Religious, Moral and Philosophical Studies teacher Stewart Clelland] told us about the cup and we decided to go for it.
"It's the first time any of us have done something like this. It took us about avmonth to a month and a half to prepare for it.
"The debates were on ethical issues of public concern.
"Taking part has really opened up our minds and made us more confident. I think it has set us all up for so much and has really pulled the school together."
There was no room for complacency, as Isla explained.
"You have to be on your toes all the time and very quick-thinking.
"There's a time limit for answering questions. It's a team effort, though.
"For me doing the debates helped me find out more about different issues than I might have otherwise.
"I'll definitely think about doing it next year. It was a great experience and sets you up for things like interviews."
For George, reaching the finals showed how good a school BCHS was.
"We're all very proud, none of us expected to get this far especially as we'd never done this sort of thing before," he continued.
"We were up against some of the finest young minds in the country.
"It raises the stature of the school and shows what we're all capable of doing regardless of what your background is.
"We were a good team and hopefully we've inspired other people to take up debating."
The team were in group three for the finals, which were held online, where they faced the High School of Dundee and Allerton High School from Leeds.
Although they were not to be victorious, it has inspired the team to continue to hone their skills and perhaps set up a debating club at BCHS.
Mr Clelland hailed the team for going so far in the competition.
He said: "This is quite an achievement for them, especially at the first time of asking.
"They were up against some top private schools.
"We're all very proud of them, not only for what they've achieved but for the way they worked together in their own time to prepare for this. They really stepped up to the challenge. This is no small part highlights their ongoing commitment to representing their community with pride and distinction.
"The John Stuart Mill Cup helps young people develop their critical thinking skills in order to come to terms with the fact that their ideas have value and that the ideas of others, too, have value. Where philosophical enquiry is valued, young people are far better equipped to understand how others think and accept that opinions other than their own are sound."
There were words of praise, too, from BCHS rector Neil Johnson.
"We have all been gripped by how well our the team of pupils taking part in the John Stuart Mill Cup have done.
"They have been pitted against some very prestigious schools from across Scotland and we were delighted that they made it through to the UK finals. Unlike debating, the format is less formulaic – and this has required them to spend a great deal of time preparing by developing a really wide understanding of the types of topic that may emerge during discussion.
"I’m delighted that their hard work has paid off for them!"
The tournament is designed to reward not the ability to win an argument but rather the ability to thoughtfully advance debates on ethical issues of public concern.
It is the first event of its kind in Britain. Students are encouraged to demonstrate their abilities to discuss issues thoughtfully and constructively, counter-acting current trends around toxic public discourse. Having qualified from the Scottish heats to take part in the UK finals, we are exceptionally proud of their achievements.
The cup is named for John Stuart Mill, a 19th-century British philosopher, economist, public intellectual and parliamentarian who was Rector of the University of St Andrew's from 1865-1868.
