Should arts that glorify crimes be banned?

FRIDAY, JULY 13: Bermuda is set to field its biggest-ever team at an international debating competition in Chile.

A total of nine contestants in three teams will on Friday travel to the Chilean capital of Santiago to take part in the Pan-American Debating Competition.

And the team is taking its youngest contestants ever, with several of them just 13.

Organiser Gladstone Thompson, who runs Dynamic Debaters and Learners, said: “This is my 20th year of doing this and one of the reasons I keep at it is because of the benefits it gives to students.”

The nine-strong team, aged between 13 and 17, will compete against the continent’s best in a series of debates.

Mr Thompson, who is also head teacher at St David’s Primary School, added: “Many who have taken part in debating seriously has taken some real strides in society.

“It helps them become productive citizens. I believe it’s the discipline involved in debating. It’s a highly cognitive situation but I believe it’s something which is useful throughout their lives.

“It’s about communicating well and everyone could communicate better. But the most important skill is listening. They learn how to listen better than the average person.

“This helps students in class and in every day life and gives them an advantage — they pick up on things other people don’t.”

He added: “I think debaters in Bermuda sometimes leave it too late to test themselves against international opposition, so we’re taking some of the youngest this time. It will be great experience for them.”

Experience

The team from Bermuda will leave for Chile on Friday, July 13 for the four-day marathon talkfest.

The Bermuda team is Megan Sutcliffe and Lillian Griffiths, both 13, of BHS, Jashonae Smith, 15, of Mount St Agnes, Marcus Bean, 16, of CedarBridge Academy, Glenn Simmons, 17, of Berkeley Institute, William Campbell, 13, Nicholas Pell, 15, and Michaela Ratteray, 17, all Saltus Grammar and Kimika Jackson, 13, who has just left Sandys Middle School for Berkeley.

Some of team already have experience of international competitions, in places as far apart as Scotland and South Africa.

Mr Thompson added: “There is no distinction in the teams between private and public schools and they come from different backgrounds – it helps them all form friendships and team spirit across social boundaries.

The team have been given subjects for three of their debates — they will have to argue over the merits of banning literature, films and music that glorifies criminality, whether the war on drugs is misdirected and if the value of natural resources can only be found in their exploitation.

Mr Thompson said: “It’s about confidence — it’s hard to get up in front of a large group of people and talk and a lot of the research they do isn’t things they get taught in school.

But he said he was disappointed at the lack of support from corporate and government sources, with most of the trip being funded by the families of the youngsters involved.

Mr Thompson said: “We really should be proud of these young people for giving up time over the summer holidays and they’re very willing to do it.

“I’d like to see more sponsorship. And if anyone is willing to help sponsor these kids, we would welcome the help.”