XXVII REVD. DR. SAMUEL SLATER MEMORIAL INVITATIONAL INTER-SCHOOL ENGLISH DEBATES
Our School reporter for Slaters – Vihaan, Class 10 has helped write the reports below.
BISHOP COTTON DEBATES TEAM VICTORIOUS
BCS Director Mr Simon Weale said; “We are thrilled to host this competition which is one of the very best in India. To win is an added bonus, but this year we had an excellent team who prepared very hard, supported by their wonderful teachers – they absolutely deserved it. By chance the proposition in the final supported by our boys was that community engagement and life skills should be mandatory in the Indian school curriculum. At BCS, these are mandatory and that explains why our boys are so successful in whatever they choose to do after they leave school.”
Bishop Cotton School has welcomed 16 top schools to take part in the XXVII Revd. Dr. Samuel
Slater Memorial Invitational Inter-School English Debates:
- GEMS New Millennium School, Dubai
- Mallinson Girls School, Srinagar
- Tyndale Biscoe School , Srinagar
- Cathedral and John Connon School, Mumbai
- Wynberg-Allen, Mussorie
- Assam Valley School, Assam
- Vasant Valley School, New Delhi
- YPS, Patiala
- Sri Ram, Moulsari
- St. Georges, Mussoorie
- Convent of Jesus and Mary, Dehradun
- Auckland House School, Shimla
- Auckland House School for Boys, Shimla
- St. Thomas School, Shimla
- Sherwood College, Nainital
- Bishop Cotton School, Shimla
DAY 5 – SLATER DEBATES CONCLUDES
25th September 2024
BISHOP COTTON DEBATES TEAM VICTORIOUS
Thrilling final debate sees BCS win trophy after 10 years
To a packed audience in the Irwin Hall the finals of the Slater debates had everyone on the edge of the seats wondering – would it be the reigning champions, the talented girls from Kashmir, or the eloquent Bishop Cotton boys?
Energy and wit
The BCS Director opened the ceremony saying “We have been delighted with this year’s debate competition particularly with the quality of debates. At times you are asked to defend the indefensible and propose the idea which you strictly reject. The participants have performed with energy and wit.”
In the 165th year since its foundation in 1859, Bishop Cotton has welcomed 16 top schools from across India (and Dubai) to take part in the five day competition – XXVII Revd. Dr. Samuel Slater Memorial Invitational Inter-School English Debates at the heritage campus in Shimla. (*see list)
After a decade in waiting, as other schools claimed the top trophy for the Slater Debates Competition, it was Bishop Cotton’s turn to win the prestigious title of ‘winners’ of the XXVII Rev’d Samuel Slater Memorial Invitational Inter-School English Debates 2024.
Chief Guest encourages debating in all schools
The Chief Guest for the event was Mr Abhishek Verma, Additional Deputy Collector, IAS, Shimla who initiated the proceedings by lighting the lamp. The anticipation was palpable as the two teams geared up to engage in an intellectual showdown that had promised to captivate the audience in a packed Irwin Hall.
Boys v Girls!
The BCS boys’ tough opponents for the finals were the talented Mallinson Girls from Kashmir who were the reigning champions in the Slater Debates last year, in 2023, but this year the BCS boys overcame their nerves and managed to clinch the victory with their eloquent speeches and witty arguments.
Enthralling final debate
The final debate showcased the exuberant linguistic talents by Bishop Cotton School’s team and the Mallinson Girls’ School’s team on the topic:
“Community engagement and life skills must be made mandatory in the Indian school curriculum”.
For: Bishop Cotton School, Shimla Against: Mallinson Girls’ School, Srinagar
The debate was enthralling and kept the audience on the edge of their seats. After a well-contested exchange, Bishop Cotton School, Shimla clinched the title of the winner of the XXVII Rev’d Samuel Slater Memorial Invitational Inter-School English Debates 2024 defeating the former victors of the tournament.
The Chief Guest Mr Abhishek Verma, said he encourages debating in all schools; “I started my debating journey at the engineering college. It has helped me bring changes in my life and personality. It immensely helped in different phases of my life. “It’s better to debate a question than to settle it rather to settle a question without debating it.” I firmly believe we should be discussing issues that are in front of us and it will take us long way discussing the difficulties of life.
Debating helps you in clearing your mind and help think from different angles and you think from multidimensional viewpoint and it helps you to achieve the sort of self actualisation and self-belief in what you want in life and where you want to go.”
BCS Director on winning the trophy
BCS Director Mr Simon Weale said; “We are thrilled to host this competition which is one of the very best in India. To win is an added bonus, but this year we had an excellent team who prepared very hard, supported by their wonderful teachers – they absolutely deserved it. By chance the proposition in the final supported by our boys was that community engagement and life skills should be mandatory in the Indian school curriculum. At BCS, these are mandatory and that explains why our boys are so successful in whatever they choose to do after they leave school.”
Day 5 Update – 25th September 2024.
The final day of the Slater competition has arrived.
The two teams who have made it through are:
Mallinson Girls’ School, Srinagar and the Bishop Cotton School, Shimla team
The final takes place this evening at 5.30pm and will be broadcast live on our BCS Facebook page
The topic for discussion is:
Community Engagement and life skills must be made mandatory in the Indian School Curriculum.
For: Bishop Cotton School, Shimla
Against: Mallinson Girls’ School, Srinagar
Day 4 Update – 24th September 2024
BISHOP COTTON SCHOOL, SHIMLA
The Quarter-Finals of the XXVII Rev. Dr Samuel Slater Memorial Invitational English
Debates. The 8 teams from the 16 teams have qualified for the quarter-final round.
The day began with a blast as the first debate tackled a philosophical and
conceptually enticing topic: “Bravery is a dying concept .” Assam Valley School
supported the motion, while Bishop Cotton School, Shimla opposed it. The debate
showcased an impressive exchange of ideas, with the proposition enumerating the
decreasing acts of bravery while the proposition focused on bravery never ending till
humanity ceases to exist. On the other hand, the opposition focused on providing
statistics and compelling information by stating that bravery has not been keeping
up with the times and hence is devolving. Bishop Cotton School team triumphed in
this scholastic battle, securing a place in the Semi-Finals by defeating Assam Valley
School team.
A very expressive and zealous debate unfolded between, the Wynberg-Allen
School, Mussoorie representing the proposition, and the Convent of Jesus and
Mary, Dehradun opposing it. The motion stated, “Capitalism’s relentless pursuit of
wealth is not the path for sustainable prosperity.”The opposition contended that
Capitalistic companies focus more on environmental growth over government
prospects while the proposition emphasised the degradation caused by a capitalistic
mindset. The motion was carried in favour of Wynberg-Allen School’s team but
faced stiff competition from the eloquent speakers of the Convent of Jesus and
Mary’s team.
Two formidable teams battled head-to-head to claim victory by substantiating their
stance, The Cathedral and John Connon School, Mumbai supported the motion
“Our education system is nurturing well-informed conformists, not future visionaries.”
while the Mallinson Girls’ School, Srinagar vehemently denounced the stance. The
former victors emerged victorious defeating the contenders from The Cathedral and
John Connon School, Mumbai. The debate that left the audience and judges
awestruck was fought between GEMS New Millenium School, Dubai, proposing
“Obedience does not imply discipline.” and Sherwood College, Nainital opposing the stance. The importance of obedience overshadowed the contradiction and paved
the way for Sherwood College to qualify.
The upcoming confrontation will truly test the academic mettle of the semi-finalists
and pave the way for the victors of the 27th Slater Debates. The following teams
have qualified for the semi-finals: Bishop Cotton School, Shimla, Mallinson Girls
School, Srinagar, Wynberg- Allen School, Mussoorie, Sherwood College, Nainital.
We await for the exciting clashes we get to see tomorrow as we declare the winners
of the XXVII REVD Slater Memorial Invitational Inter-School English Debates.
Day 3 update: XXVII Rev. Dr. Samuel Slater Memorial Invitational English Debates at
Bishop Cotton School, Shimla featured a flabbergasting debate that ensued
between Auckland House School, Shimla and Wynberg-Allen School, Mussoorie.
Wynberg-Allen proposed the motion of the topic “War is not a topic for public
entertainment” and Auckland House School opposed the motion. The opposition
vehemently argued to maintain their stance but the students of Auckland House
School attained victory by pulchritudinously emphasising the importance of
transparency and public awareness.
An enigmatic intellectual battle emanated between the Convent of Jesus and Mary,
Dehradun and St George’s College, Mussoorie. The Convent of Jesus and Mary
supported the motion “It is crucial to televise all major criminal trials,” while St.
George’s opposed it. The motion was carried in favour of the Convent of Jesus and
Mary, Dehradun. The first speaker, Maira Gupta from the Convent of Jesus and
Mary stated, “Debating helped me evolve as a pragmatic leader that helped me
empower women in my society.” The following ideology embodies the spirit of the
Slater debates which enables students to fight for a positive change in society
through debating.
DAY 2 – 22nd September, 2024 – BISHOP COTTON SCHOOL, SHIMLA
Today’s proceedings were initiated by the Director’s address in the chapel, Director Mr.
Simon Weale, emphasized the increasing importance of teaching young people public
speaking skillls by stating that debating is an “Integral part of our school calendar as
debating is an essential life skill.”
The Slater Debates are named in honour of the first headmaster, Rev. Dr. Samuel Slater,
who led BCS from 1863 to 1885. Last year, the girls of Mallinson Girls’ School, Srinagar
claimed victory through their resilience during the past instability in the Kashmir valley is
very commendable. Ms Syed Bareen Qadri of Mallinson Girls represented the former
victors and stated “Children in Kashmir were robbed of many opportunities which deeply
affected me as well as the students of Kashmir but we have always proved to everyone
that no matter what your past has created for you,it is about how strong you come back
which defines you“.
The first debate of the day showcased a clash between St Thomas vs Tyndale Biscoe
School, Srinagar. The motion, “Make in India is a political tool to gain votes, ” was opposed
by Tyndale Biscoe School, Srinagar and proposed by St Thomas. The lead speaker for the
opposition stated ‘Development is not building dams or roads but building the people”.
The motion was lost and Tyndale Biscoe claimed victory. Another jaw-dropping debate
unfolded between Yadvinder Public School and Wynberg Allen School, Mussoorie on the
topic, “The Indian School curriculum is far better for India than any foreign board,” the
proposition provided factual information asserting that many prominent and influential
figures in society have benefited from the Indian education system and have made a mark
globally. The debate was fiercely contested, but ultimately Wynberg Allen gained victory.
The Slater debates commenced with great zeal and commitment to promote intellectual
growth in the students. A notable opinion from Ms.Gupta of Shri Ram School, Moulsari,
stating that “The Slater debates is a safe space for me to fight for my opinions without the
bloodshed.” The day ended strongly and a fierce start for the upcoming debates is
anticipated tomorrow at the XXVII Revd. Dr Samuel Slater Memorial invitational inter-
school English debates.
