Debating Matters Transatlantic this Saturday

At a time when there are plenty of differences between the UK and US governments, teams of American and British students will debate some of the biggest issues of our time.

This Saturday, students from the US and the UK will battle it out online to become champions of the first-ever Debating Matters Transatlantic (DMTA) competition. We would be delighted if you could attend this exciting event. The competition runs from 2pm to 8pm (GMT) and you would be welcome to join us for part or all of the day. Please contact geoff@ideasmatter.org.uk for more information or to reserve your place.

Here, Mo Lovatt from Debating Matters explains what the DMTA project is all about and why it’s so important in today’s climate.

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From JD Vance’s speech in Munich (and the reaction to it from European leaders) to the differing stances of our respective political leaders to the war in Ukraine, US-UK relations are certainly in an interesting phase! And it seems more important than ever that we open up dialogue across the Atlantic. That’s why, at Ideas Matter, the charity which runs Debating Matters (DM), we’re delighted we’ve been able to come together in a partnership project with the US-based Bill of Rights Institute to create the opportunity for young people, on both sides of the Atlantic, to debate issues surrounding free speech, autonomy, democracy and liberty.

The Bill of Rights Institute teaches civics across the US and equips students and teachers to live the ideals of a free and just society. Debating Matters, now in its twenty-first year, is dedicated to providing young people with the opportunity to debate contemporary issues in a civil but robust way, emphasising strong research, applied knowledge and clear thinking. DMTA combines the ethos of both organisations, encouraging young people to go beyond the headlines and tackle the biggest issues confronting Western society today.

The project is supported by the Rising Tide Foundation with the aim of creating a transatlantic conversation between young people, aged 16 to 18, giving them the opportunity to understand and debate the issues they face in their respective countries, as well as establishing intellectual relationships across borders.

This Saturday,1 March, will mark the culmination of the first phase of the project, which began in August 2024 with a range of bespoke Debating Workshops and a US Qualifying Round in November. This inaugural virtual debate tournament was a great success, with participating students showcasing their exceptional skills in civil discourse as they debated topics such as Populism is a threat to democracy, We should accept the risks inherent in contact sports and Monuments to controversial historical figures should remain.

A range of bespoke DM Topic Guides have been created for DMTA with the aim of looking at contemporary moral issues from both sides of the pond. On Saturday, young debaters will tackle a range of issues, aiming to go beyond the headlines and dig deep into whether humanity should fear advances in artificial intelligence, if tech companies should act to stop online misinformation, smartphones should be banned in the classroom and whether Cancel Culture is a threat to freedom of speech.

Pupils from four UK schools, forming three teams, will take part in the final. Oldham Hulme Grammar School and Crompton House School come together to form the ‘Oldham Schools’ team and are joined by teams from The Burgate School and Oakwood Park Grammar School. From the US, six young debaters will form three teams to compete against their British contemporaries: The Great Debaters, Cowgirl Crusaders and the Panthers. The three US teams are made up of the winning contestants from the US qualifying round.

Experienced judges, both American and British, will put students to the test by asking pertinent questions, pushing them to find their best argument and defend their position. In addition, they will offer the students thoughtful feedback on how to develop and hone their debating skills in the future.

Debating Matters Transatlantic Final promises to be an exhilarating and though-provoking day and we are grateful to the students, teachers, judges and Rising Tide for creating this great opportunity. You can see the full programme here. If you would like to watch the debates online, please contact Geoff Kidder (geoff@ideasmatter.org.uk) for more information or to reserve a place. The competition runs from 2pm to 8pm GMT (9am to 3pm Eastern Daylight Time). We hope to see you there!

If you would like to support Debating Matters, you can donate via Donorbox.