International Student Debate Options

[John Simkin]

I would like to organize a weekly student debate on international issues. At first I think it would be wise to restrict to about two students per school. However, if you are at an international school we could have two students per country. The debate will be in English but it is hoped that those running the different language sections will also offer similar debates. It is a project that lends itself to the very able student. In Britain we have been discussing ways of how we can stimulate the minds of the most able. Debates like this will enable bright students all over the world to stimulate each other. Ideally the debating group would include students from as many countries as possible.

The idea is that one of the teachers on the forum would start the debate and pose a question with international relevance for discussion. The students will then contribute to the debate. After a week the debate will be closed. Teachers could then post details of how they would make use of this debate as a teaching resource.

Please post details of your school and country if you are interested in joining this project. As soon as we have more than ten schools involved we can begin the first debate.

[Dan Lyndon]

You can count me in - 2 students from Henry Compton school in Fulham, London.

[Anders MacGregor...]

We, Hvitfeldtska Gymnasiet in Gothenburg Sweden, will also participate, but our school does not start until Thursday next week (8/1 2004).

[UlrikeSchuhFrick...]

I would like to join the forum.
My school is a German Grammar school in Braunschweig which is in Lower Saxony. It is called Neue Oberschule.
The students involved would mainly come from our bilingual branch (in these classes the subjects History, Geography, Politics and P.E. are taught in English). Depending on the question the students would come from all age groups,i.e. from 13 to 19/20.
As we do not have an English partner school such a forum would be an ideal opportunity for our students to use English in a very natural, "real" way.
In recent times the aim of making students see and assess history from many different, European and global perspectives has been stressed by the respective political institutions; the forum is a good way of not only presenting different viewpoints but also discussing them - among peers.

This post has been edited by UlrikeSchuhFricke: Jan 2 2004, 04:26 PM

[Nick Falk]

I would be interested - I will make an announcement in the upper school assembly at the start of term.

Sackville Community College, East Grinstead - 11 -18 yrs comprehensive.

[John Simkin]

I would be interested - I will make an announcement in the upper school assembly at the start of term.

There may be a misunderstanding of how the project will work. It is for the teacher to select two very able students who will be able to cope with a high-powered debate.

[Richard Jones-Ne...]

Count me in on this.

International School of Toulouse, 11-18. Perhaps we might eventually have junior and senior debates?

Initially I suppose we want GCSE/IB level students, 14-18?

Are we thinking of creating a different forum for this? I would have some reservations about students registered on a forum for 'Teachers and Educators'.

[John Simkin]

Are we thinking of creating a different forum for this? I would have some reservations about students registered on a forum for 'Teachers and Educators'.

The plan is to create a forum within a forum. These carefully selected students will only be able to post within the Student Debate section.

If we find the 14-18 goes well we can introduce a 11-14 section.

[Nico Zijlstra]

Good idea, but since I'm not teaching the 16-18 year olds, I've got to ask collegues to find students.
Nico

[Andy Davies]

We are currently setting up a forum for our G and T students. They are invited to access the forum during lunchtimes, breaktimes and after school.

We hope that a member of the teaching staff will offer a question or topical issue at the start of each week for the students to discuss. We also hope to extend the forum to our student teachers.

This international forum adds a new dimension. Count us in.

[UlrikeSchuhFrick...]

I would appreciate a 11-14 section; it would be easier for the little ones to participate in a forum of their own especially as their English might not be good enough to exchange their views with the older ones.

[Guest_John Kelly_*]

A great idea. I will find two students for the debate. What date do wish to start the debate?

[John Simkin]

A great idea.  I will find two students for the debate.  What date do wish to start the debate?

When we have another schools involved in the project. I think we can create a good debate with ten schools (20 students). So far we have students from England, Sweden, China, Germany and the Netherlands. I am not sure of the nationality of the students Richard is going to provide from his international school.

What about topics? Any ideas on the subject matter for the first debate?

[Pauline Crawford]

I have two students from an Australian school, but they will not be back from summer holidays until the first week in February. What do you mean by "debate"? Are you thinking of a formal comment and rebuttal style or an educated on-line discussion?

[Seb St John]

I can provide two students for any debate - West Kent, England. Keep me posted.