Debating and Public Speaking
Introduction
Each year students from the Senior Cycle get involved in Debating and Public Speaking. This is a very important opportunity for students to acquire the skills that allow them to stand up before a group of people and present on a topic. As their confidence in speaking grows so too does their ability to research a topic and understand the issue arising in the debating or public speaking forum.
The Philosophical Society of UCC runs a day workshop to assist the students in their development of debating skills and this year 8 students from the debating club at the school benefited from this experience. They joined with over two hundred students from all over Munster for a relaxed, enjoyable forum where speakers could learn from each other and from some of UCC’s Philosoph’s best debaters!
Such an event prepares the CBS debaters for their first challenge each year: The Concern Debates. With the opening rounds run on a League basis each point gained is important. The Concern Debates have been running for over 20 years since 1984 and is Ireland’s longest running Secondary School Debates Competition. Approximately 160 schools participate each year with CBS Charleville reaching the last 32 in recent years. As well as developing their public speaking skills, the students gain a deeper awareness and understanding of global issues that impact on the lives of millions of people living in the developing world.
The public speakers of CBS Charleville continue to develop in their understanding of others through Mental Health Ireland’s National Public Speaking Project. Through introducing the students to the public speaking forum the project allows young people to become aware of the importance of positive mental health and of the causes and effects of mental illness. Their research, knowledge and ability to stand before others and speak for 7 minutes while supporting their opinions helps to reduce the negative attitudes and prejudices associated with mental illness.
In the forthcoming school year the public speakers have taken on yet another forum and this one for the first time; The Schools’ Public Speaking Competition for TY Students run by the National Forum on Europe. This year’s competition focuses on the “Four Freedoms (Goods, Money, People, Services) - The European Union at Work”. With students’ quality of expression, use of language, their ease of speaking in public and their teamwork all up for assessment they will certainly be challenged in this public speaking forum. A strong and healthy atmosphere of discussion is promoted by the Debaters and Public Speakers in CBS Charleville.
Public Speaking 2009/10
The Transition Year Public Speaking team made its first appearance on the 2nd December. Shane O’Rahilly, Karol Pawlak and Brendan Woodage participated on the Cork Mental Health Association’s Public Speaking Project. The project aims to raise student awareness and improve their understanding of issues surrounding mental health in today’s society. For Transition Year students this adds to the topics and issues discussed in Junior Cert SPHE where students acquire skills to cope with today’s demanding society. Taking on the public speaking teams of St. Mary’s Charleville and St. Fanahan’s Mitchelstown the team eloquently displayed their understanding of issues surrounding mental health.
Round 1: Concern Debates 2009-2010
On Monday 19th October the CBS debating tame began their campaign in this year’s Concern Debates. Proposing the motion That the European Union is failing Africa, the team faced stiff competition from Davis College, Mallow. Team captain Kieran Cooney, 5th year, set the tone for the night with an inspirational opening speech in favour of the motion. This was followed by strong support from Michael O’Donnell (6th Year), David Sheehan (T.Y.) and Shane Sheedy (T.Y.) resulting in a great win for the team. Congratulations to this team who won with excellent speeches and clear refutation of the opposing team’s arguments. They now look forward to taking on the Patrician Academy on the 11th November when they oppose the motion that “Rising Unemployment at home is too high a price to pay for Aid to the Developing World”.
The CBS Charleville debating team is still involved in the League Phase of the annual Concern Debates competition. Having taken on topics such as The European Union is failing Africa, Rising unemployment at home is too high a price to pay for Aid to the Developing World and The Irish Media has a stereotyped and unfair view of Africa the four students involved have displayed excellent debating skills. Michael O’ Donnell, Kieran Cooney, David Sheehan and Shane Sheedy make up this team with Kieran Cooney taking on the role of captain. The team are currently preparing for the next debate against Ard Scoil Mhuire FCJ, Bruff in January when they will oppose the motion “As the UN approaches its 65th birthday, it should consider retirement”. Best of luck to the team.
2008/09
This year’s Concern Debate team made a valliant effort in the League Phase of the 2008-09 competition. In their group were Hazelwood College Dromcolliher, Patrician Academy Mallow and Colaiste Muire Buttevant. All four team members have worked dilligently since October preparing for their three debates. Topics included ‘The Bebo generation cares little for the developing world’.’ The Western Media have a “red-top” attitude to the developing world’. ‘Genetically Modified food is the answer to the Third World hunger’.
The tough topics resulted in interesting and informative debates where all four students ,Barry McCarthy, Cian O’Sullivan, Michael O’Donnell and Alan McCarthy spoke well and confidently. Well done to the students for their involvement and dedication to the debates. While they have not progressed to the Knock Out Phase they have certainly acquired excellent debating skills and the confidence to speak in public.
Their debating year has not come to an end however with two more competitions being run in February and March. The ‘Debating Science Issues’ run by UCC and the Tyndall Institute will take place in February. The Griffith College Law Society Debates will take place in March. We wish the students the best of luck in these.
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Debating and Public Speaking has taken off again this year at C.B.S. Charleville with Transition Year and Fifth Year students confidently speaking up on a variety of topics. The Fifth Year debating team (Barry McCarthy, Alan McCarthy, Stephen Dawson, Cian O'Sullivan and Michael O'Donnell) have begun their campaign in the Concern Debates discussing issues relating to the developing World. The League Phase of their debating campaign is well underway. In early December these students will also embark on the Debating Science Issues in conjunction with U.C.C. examining the whole area of Nanotechnology.
The Transition Year Public Speaking team (Kieran Cooney, Ryan McCarthy, and Stephen Hourigan) had a great win in the Constituency Heat of the National Forum on Europe Public Speaking Competition seeing off competition from Castletownbere, Clonakilty, Midleton and Cork city. They now progress to the Regional Finals of the competition. This team will also participate in the Mental Health Ireland Public Speaking Competition in early December.
