Debating Matters: promoting debate to a new generation

After protesters had forced the cancellation of a debate at Durham Union Society, our Durham Championship exemplified the importance of free speech. Next stop: Berlin!

DURHAM CHAMPIONSHIP 2024
On 13 June, students from six North East schools came together to compete in the Debating Matters Durham Championship 2024. For the second year running, debates took place at the Durham Union Society (DUS), in the impressive Debating Chamber, which has been a home for free speech since 1842.

In the opening debates, on whether humanity should fear advances in artificial intelligence, Barnard Castle School took on last year’s winners, Durham Johnston School. Meanwhile Durham Sixth Form Centre faced Gosforth Academy in two exciting debates that set the tone for the whole day.

In Debate Two, Assisted dying should be legalised, four schools debated a sensitive topic with integrity and passion, showing they’d done their research and thought carefully about the topic. Credit to all four debate teams: Durham Johnston School took on Teesdale School & Sixth Form while Gosforth Academy took on Yarm School. And, in the final group-round debate, Corporate sponsorship is good for the arts, Teesdale School & Sixth Form debated Barnard Castle School, whilst Yarm School faced Durham Sixth Form Centre.

Following some intense deliberation from Championship judges, it was finally announced that Durham Johnston and Yarm schools would meet in the final to battle it out over the highly contested, contemporary topic: Populism is a threat to democracy. The two teams debated vigorously and challenged their opponents with excellent points, counterpoints, citing sources from the DM Topic Guide and their own research.

However, there can only be one winner and the judges decided Yarm School were the winners of the Debating Matters Durham Championship 2024, with Nila Baskar from Yarm receiving the award for Best Individual Debater, a Highly Commended award for Anna Beresford of Durham Johnston School and Sophie Jewitt from Yarm winning a Commended prize.

We were delighted with the high standard of debate across the board and would like to extend our thanks to the students, their teachers and our array of fantastic DM judges for putting the students to the test, pushing them to find their best argument and offering helpful feedback for their future debating careers. Taking young people and their ideas seriously is a hallmark of the DM format and each judge rose to the occasion. We are especially grateful to Matthew Brooker, Oli Dawson and the membership of DUS for showing their commitment to debate and free speech.

CANCELLED DEBATE
The Championship was more relevant than ever this year because, only days before, the Durham Union was hitting the headlines. Durham University had taken the decision to cancel a debate on the Israel-Hamas conflict after protesters locked some of their students inside the Durham Union building.

One of the proposed speakers for the event, Natasha Hausdorff of UK Lawyers for Israel, told the Telegraph newspaper: ‘Around a dozen students were preparing the chamber for the debate, then a mob formed a human chain blocking them inside. They were stuck inside the debate chamber for more than two and a half hours. The police took no action because the university refused to give them a mandate to take action.’ On the advice of Durham Constabulary, the university called off the debate citing concerns about the welfare, safety and security of all involved, as well as the wider university community.

It was not a decision supported by the Durham Union itself, who issued the following statement:

Free speech is a right. That right was taken away from our speakers and members last night. One viewpoint in a complex debate decided that Durham students were not allowed to hear or challenge other views or to decide for themselves. The Durham Union strongly condemns the protesters for their conduct and regrets the University’s decision to cancel the debate. We will not be silenced.

Durham Union Society statement on the Israel-Palestine debate

This is a worrying development for those of us who cherish free speech and open debate. Not only because the university caved in to the intimidatory tactics of the protesters, but because the events of 7 June mirror what has been happening around the UK, North America and across the Western world. ‘No Debate’ has become the official stance of pro-Palestine protesters, with students being advised not to engage in any discussion of the topic with the press, the public or fellow students.

Schools debating is precious and worth supporting more than ever with the threat of cancellations, protesters and hecklers’ vetoes becoming the norm. Debating Matters will continue to promote open debate across the UK and also in Germany, where the DM team is headed next…  

BERLIN CHAMPIONSHIP 2024
The Debating Matters Berlin Championship 2024 takes place on 28 June and, for the ninth year running, the competition will see 12 schools, 40 judges and 100s of students coming together in one of the most intense days of debate in our calendar. Co-hosted with University of Europe for Applied Sciences, Berlin and Freiblickinstitut, we look forward to another day of genuinely open debate where young German students will have their say on some of the most important contemporary issues facing society today.

We are immensely proud that we continue to champion free speech and open debate in these increasingly censorious times and never tire of how much students truly appreciate the opportunity to get to grips with contemporary issues in a fast-paced, highly charged but civil environment. 

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