This was another excellent set of Socratic Club sessions with an extensive newsround and superb debating as we build towards our competition next week.
Our skill focus this week looked at Team work - with particular attention to active listening and trying to outmanoeuvre the opposition in a debate.
Our newsround saw reference to the T20 cricket world cup, Daniel Radcliffe's Tony Award, the Euros, the Ukraine Peace conference in Switzerland, the UK General Election, and Trooping the Colour - with Charles III's two birthdays.
We asked whether the King should have two birthdays?
Many felt this was a great opportunity for the country to come together to celebrate the day and to involved the armed services in saluting the occasion. Others questioned cost, and the climate impact of such an event. It was a fascinating discussion.
For our main warm up we then turned to our interview style philosophical question with an emphasis on 'why'/justification?:
'Should we still write letters?'
This saw a super discussion - with responses centring on tradition, cost, the writing industry and jobs, climate/deforestation points, and writing as a key life skill. The group still saw value in this ancient communication form and many points directed the group to effort, attention, detail and subsequent appreciation that handwritten letters involve/facilitate.
We then turned to the motion:
'This House would make cooking classes compulsory in school'.
In voting, the group began by supporting the idea of cooking classes as an option within the curriculum as a compulsory option. The Junior Group by 67%. However, as the session moved on this changed with concerns as to the cost of this and the idea that the curriculum was already stretched and Mathematics, Science and English should have a priority. The Senior Group liked the idea, but remained split as to the compulsory element. An afterschool club idea had widespread support and enthusiasm.
We also debated whether all schools should have a pet - and whether Elon Musk's $56bn pay deal was appropriate. In each discussion we saw mature and sophisticated responses.
Very well done all!
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