An initiative from the Maitland Learning Community aims to make the transition to high school easier for primary students through the art of debating.
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Students from Tenambit, Largs, Hinton and Metford public schools as well as Maitland High School competed at the inaugural year 5-8 debating challenge on Monday and Tuesday.
The competition was part of a strategy to strengthen links between the schools in the Maitland Learning Community and promote engagement.
Challenge organisers Liz Everson and Cheree O’Neill said they were thrilled with the
student’s commitment and believed it would help build a platform for their integration to high school.
After the preliminary rounds on Monday, semi-finals were held on Tuesday before the final between Maitland High and Tenambit, whose students argued that life bans should be imposed on sports people who cheat.
The year 8 students from Maitland High won the day as they argued for the affirmative.
Mrs Everson said the program was worthwhile for younger students.
“Part of our job is to introduce strategies that will help students acclimatise to high school,” she said.
“By doing this they start to become used to high school; they start to know the buildings and the rooms and people know their faces.
“It also gives them more confidence in public speaking, which is important.”
