Craigleith/Blackhall

If community involvement is about anything it is about discussion and arriving at a consensus of opinion that the community deems acceptable.

Of course this is never arrived at without several alternatives being discussed.

While the debate at our meetings is sometimes unstructured and of a somewhat ad hoc nature we are lucky in that any any decisions are arrived at by a vote of the participants.

This is not the case in the more formal and structured world of debating.

The Craigleith Blackhall Community Council is very fortunate in having 4 local secondary schools (Royal High / Mary Erskines / Stewart Melvilles / Broughton High) serving the area.

Each year we organise a debate between the 4 schools junior (S1 - S3) debating teams. This debate is held under a "parliamentary style" format.

This means that the teams of two (first and second chair) are split to either argue "for" or "against" the motion.

On both sides of the motion the first chair of the first team to speak "leads" the arguement, the second chair will then "follow". The first chair of the second team to speak will then "extend" the arguement leaving the second chair to "close" the case.

The case "for" the motion starts the debate followed by the case "against" and then turn about until all the speakers have spoken.

All this takes place under the clock - each speaker only gets five minutes to present their case. The first and last minutes are "protected" from interruption by the opposition but the three minutes in the middle are open for the opposition the ask points of information, challenge points made and question the speaker. It is up to the speaker to either accept the challenge or dismiss it.

It may sound complicated but the structure means that the debate moves at a very swift pace and you have to stay very focused to catch all the points raised and arguements made.

The debates are held in the neutral territory of Blackhall St Columbas Church main hall and are open (and free) to the public to attend. The debates are generally held on a Thursday in the middle of September.

Should you wish to have more details or be advised when the next debate will be held then please use the "Contact Us" link above to get in touch.