The Chronicle 2022

DEBATING AND PUBLIC SPEAKING SOCIETY

Staff Members in Charge: Mrs Sally Cahill, Mr Anele Cebo Chairman and Captain of Debating: Reuben Baldry AWARDS Honours: Reuben Baldry Colours: Andrew Woodland, Muako Maepa Half-Colours: Luke Kaufmann, Seth Segal, Lucien Baldry, Damian Watson, Chishala Kalenga, Jude Njeru, Ayden McDavid, Nathan Strachan ANNUAL AWARDS Truda Cup: Reuben Baldry Coyle Debating Prize: Luke Kaufmann Most Improved Debater and Public Speaker: Damian Watson Most Promising Junior Speaker: Daniel French REPRESENTATION KWAZULU-NATAL AT THE SASDB NATIONAL DEBATING TOURNAMENT: Lucien Baldry, Luke Kaufmann, Boitumelo Motsepe, Daniel French PIETERMARITZBURG AT THE KZNSDA PROVINCIAL DEBATING TOURNAMENT: Luke Kaufmann, Lucien Baldry, Daniel French, Boitumelo Motsepe, Seth Segal 6th place - Senior Provincial League: Reuban Baldry 8th place - Junior Provincial League: Daniel French

speakers and debaters, and this proved more important this year than ever before. Their collective experience was invaluable in continuing the legacy left behind by Mrs Candice Smith, who, in her time as MIC of the society, catapulted it into the stratosphere and in so doing provided opportunities for boys to excel. She departed half-way through 2021, and her successor, Mr Richard Brown, left Michaelhouse at the end of 2021. This left the society in the very inexperienced hands of Mrs Sally Cahill and Mr Anele Cebo, who had much to learn! But learn they did, and the boys were instrumental in helping them ease into their roles. We began the year with two very strong senior teams, led by Reuben Baldry, two junior teams with many debates under their belts already, and two E Block teams, bristling with potential. There was so much interest from the new boys, in fact, that, had it been permitted, we could have entered four teams in the league. Those who did not debate competitively still made time to attend all the weekly society meetings and learnt a good deal about the art through assisting with league debate preparations and taking part in mock debates, as speakers or adjudicators. All of our teams held their own during the league, which runs from January to August, and a few of our boys did exceptionally well. Special mention must be made of our “MHS 1” E Block team, who progressed all the way to the finals, finishing as runners up, despite their total lack of experience coming into the league. These boys will certainly go a long way in the years to come. The most positive development for the society this year was a return to face-to-face, in-person debating, after two years of managing the challenges of Discord, the online platform. Technical glitches, dodgy Wifi, superficial engagement and general online frustration faded quickly into the past as the boys travelled to Pietermaritzburg and surrounds on a weekly basis to interact with their fellow debaters from other schools in the league. It made the world of difference to be able to engage with and pit wits against debaters from other schools in a face-to-face format, and the improvement in our debaters’ skills was striking. As the league wrapped up, a number of our boys were selected for the Pietermaritzburg team, or as reserves, to compete at the provincial tournament in July. This was held at St Henry’s Marist College and was a fantastic opportunity for these boys to develop their talent. They did their teams and their school proud and four of them went on to be selected for the KwaZulu-Natal side, and will compete in the national tournament in December this year. They are Luke Kaufmann, Lucien Baldry, Boitumelo Motsepe and Daniel French. Unfortunately, internationally, Covid was still lingering, which meant that the World Independent Debating and Public Speaking Championship (WIDPSC), instead of being held in Lithuania, was rescheduled, as an online tournament again, for April. Our two representatives, Reuben Baldry and Frederick Waller were unable to take part due to other commitments, but we are proud of them for being selected.

NATIONAL INDEPENDENT AND PUBLIC SPEAKING CHAMPIONSHIPS

Luke Kaufmann Luke Kaufmann

Debating – 2nd place: Overall – 2nd place: Overall – 20th place:

Seth Segal

Invited as a South African delegate to the World Independent and Public Speaking Championships 2023: Luke Kaufmann

PIETERMARITZBURG DEBATING LEAGUE

2nd place: Michaelhouse E Block Team 6th overall, Grade 8 League: Jack Stevenson 7th overall, Junior League: Damian Watson 8th overall, Junior League: Lucien Baldry 3rd overall, Senior League, and Silver Level Senior Speaker certificate: Reuben Baldry he Michaelhouse Debating and Public Speaking Society is fortunate to count amongst its many members some highly experienced, highly committed and highly talented

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The National Independent Debating and Public Speaking

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