Six Straight: Knox Retains CAS Debating Shield

Following our students’ exceptional performances, members of our 1sts were selected in the CAS Representative teams.

Throughout the competition, our students debated a wide range of issues spanning education, sport, politics, international relations, and law and order, tackling complex topics that challenged them to think critically, analyse evidence and consider multiple perspectives. For CAS 1sts student Ryan (Year 11), who has a keen interest in sport, one of the most engaging debates centred on the question: “When launching new sports into new markets, should national sporting federations focus on the national team first rather than developing local leagues?”

Reflecting on the competition, Ryan said, “Regardless of our individual stances on these different Debating issues, I think it's important for young people to be proactively discussing these topics, given many of us have novel and innovative ideas to contribute to political discourse.”

When asked what advice he would offer younger students, Ryan emphasised the importance of consistency and accumulative habits.

“Debating is not a skill which can be developed overnight,” Ryan said. “The smallest actions, such as listening to the news, reading articles or blog posts and showing up to training sessions, can help you improve significantly. Debating develops the ability to communicate ideas with confidence and clarity; to logically analyse and present a cohesive argument, and to have an enhanced understanding of the current state of the world, society, and political issues.”

We congratulate all students across Years 7-12 for the commitment, preparation and skill they brought to every debate.