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February 14 - 28, 2005
You are Invited! See the best and brightest students math their powers of persuasion and argument against competitors from around the world
There’s still time to see the semi-finals and finals of the 2005 ConocoPhillips World Schools Debating Championships, which are being held in Calgary for the first time. The debates take place from February 9-18, 2005 at various schools around the city. Check out the world debates website at www.schoolsdebate.ca for times, locations and more information.
Calgarians are invited to attend these one-of-a-kind events, which showcase some of the world’s brightest and most articulate high school students. The Calgary Board of Education is a major partner in the 2005 world championships and is hosting debates at many of its school facilities.
The first World Schools Debating Championships were held in Australia in 1988, the same year that Calgary hosted the world at the ’88 Winter Olympics. That debate competition attracted participants from Australia, Canada, England, Hong Kong, New Zealand and the United States.
In this first-ever event, Canada’s team won the championships taking the world title. The Canadian team was made up entirely of Alberta students, all members of the Alberta Debate and Speech Association, a non-profit association that draws students from across Alberta’s school systems.
Since that premiere year, the competition has grown and attracts students from up to 50 countries. Canada is often represented in the top eight finalist teams and Alberta students have been national team members almost every year since 1988.
All debates take place in English. As a result, some students debate in their second, or even third language, but they are still able to communicate powerfully and compellingly. In addition, students must sometimes defend positions that are contrary to their personal views, or to the cultural views of their country. They have to set aside all personal and political affiliations in order to debate effectively.
For more information on the 2005 ConocoPhillips World Schools Debating Championships, see www.schoolsdebate.ca.
Calgary Board of Education, Calgary’s public school system
"Educating Tomorrow’s Citizens Today"
