Annual Intraschool Debate

On the occasion of Republic Day each year, the Middle School organizes the Annual Intra School Debate competition.The debate is an event encouraging learners of Classes VII and VIII to opine their views on an important current issue or a world event of interest. Like all experiences in Shikshantar, debate is also taken through a class project. The children go through different forms of public speaking.This year the project was ‘Kuch Suni-Ansuni’, through an interesting journey of jam sessions, extempore,speech, declamation and debate. After a round of intra class debate, the group selected their speakers. All children of a group then work together with the speaker for the content and addressing rebuttal, bringing the spirit of teamwork alive. The children came with thorough research and spoke with clarity and conviction. The children went on to discuss issues and concerns around thermal power, high rise buildings, building of dams which are destroying the ecosystem and all felt that we as human beings need to shrink our material needs to protect the ecosystem. On the other hand some also felt that with economic development and the need for employment comes the need for expansion,housing, transport etc and it is hypocritical of the first world to suggest otherwise. The rebuttal came with questions and thought provoking statements on our need to learn from history,“The Grand Trunk road was built on the longest stretch without cutting a single tree. ” The occasion was graced by senior school English facilitators, Mahua didi and Shruti Sharma didi. The judges congratulated and encouraged the children for their endeavour.