For the past three years the school has participated in the Concern Primary School’s Debating competition organised in conjunction with the Education Centre, Tralee.
Even though we are very new to the competition we have performed well against schools that are well established and have great experience in the art of debating. Each year we improve as we learn from ourselves and other schools how to convince the adjudicators that you believe in the content of your opinion.
Our debaters have shown great confidence in public speaking and we certainly have honed our skills over the past number of years. We have had both victories and defeats in the competition but we always enjoy the experience.
Learning to Debate and Public Speak reaps life long benefits.
- Develop excellent oral and written communication skills.
- Develop excellent critical thinking skills.
- Develop effective tools for research, organization and presentation.
- Develop strategies to overcome fears of public speaking.
- Discover the confidence and desire to participate in all academic classes.
Students who participate in debate programs will discover and develop the following skills:
- Confidence – Belief in themselves and their abilities, and the desire to participate in all classes.
- Curiosity – The passion of discovery through effective tools for research, organization and presentation.
- Critical Thinking – How to explore the world through the lens of an inquisitive mind
- Communication – Oral & written skills and strategies for lively yet respectful discussions & disagreements.
- Control – Eliminate the fears of public speaking.
- Creativity – The desire to explore, create and invent.
- Camaraderie – Meet like-minded peers at tournaments and build healthy bonds of competition.
- Leadership – Self-motivation and the ability to delegate assignments and manage peers.