Debating plays an important role at ESMS. Every year students at The Mary Erskine School and Stewart’s Melville College bring home awards from competitions against schools across the UK and Europe and our debating clubs are among the most popular in the school. This term, eight students from The Mary Erskine School represented the East of Scotland at the European Youth Parliament Finals in Liverpool.
Debating helps children to develop a wide range of critical thinking and communication skills. It teaches you to listen carefully to your opposition, skilfully plan a powerful argument and deliver it in a succinct way. The European Youth Parliament is an organisation which aims to inspire and empower young Europeans to become active citizens, encouraging them to share their ideas and voice their opinions on the key issues affecting the people of Europe today.
The team, consisting of Ambra C, Isaac E, Iris F, Rosie H, Sophie L, Petra P, Alice T and Eleanor W spent four intensive days working with top students from across the UK and beyond.
Unlike the Regional round, the students in each school team were all placed in different Committees, and together each Committee discussed and wrote a resolution on an assigned topic. Two days of Team Building and Committee Work were followed by General Assembly, during which all nine resolutions were debated, over two days.
The standard of debating this year was outstanding and it was inspiring to see so many young people discussing, and coming to a consensus, on issues such as the ramifications of AI, Cyber Security and UK/EU relations to name just a few!
Many individual delegates were selected to represent the UK at International level, from many different schools, but the Mary Erskine School was the only school team to be selected as a whole.
This was an impressive achievement. The Jury was impressed by their passion and political awareness and they have now been invited to represent the UK in Leuven, Belgium in March at what promises to be an exciting session, focused around the theme of Democracy through Diversity.
We would like to congratulate all eight students, who were superb ambassadors for the school and we wish them well in Leuven. Plus, a huge thank you to Ms Connet and Mr Chittleburgh for their help, guidance and support.
