Douglas Academy debating success
10 Mar 08
Pupils from Milngavie school qualify for final of Society's annual tournament
Pupils from Douglas Academy in Milngavie have made it through to the final of the Law Society of Scotland’s Donald Dewar Memorial Debating Tournament.
Emma Divers and Rebecca McSheaffrey debated the motion, "This House would ban worship of any form in all schools" at the regional final held at the Royal High, Edinburgh, on 6 March. Kirkcudbright Academy, Uddingston Grammar, and the Royal High also took part.
The contest was the second regional final in the tournament. Joanna Farmer and Michael Sim of Robert Gordon's College, Aberdeen won similar success in their regional final, beating teams from Keith Grammar, McLaren High School in Callander, and St George's School for Girls, Edinburgh.
The winning teams go on to the grand final of the competition, to be held at the Scottish Parliament on 12 June.
The competition, now the biggest schools’ debating tournament in Scotland and which is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year, is being partnered by the Equality and Human Rights Commission. The winners of each of four regional finals take part in the final.
Collette Paterson, new lawyers’ coordinator at the Law Society of Scotland, said: “We have seen some very impressive performances during the tournament and each of the 16 teams who made it to the regional finals is to be congratulated.
“There are some difficult decisions to be made at this stage of the tournament, but Emma and Rebecca showed their true debating colours. The teams were given the motion just an hour before the competition and Douglas Academy team came up with some impressive points to argue their case. They are very deserving winners.”