Umina teams compete in debating challenge

Two teams from Umina Beach Public School competed in Round 2 of the Premiers Debating Challenge

"Our Year 5 team headed to Kincumber Public School and our Year 6 team to Pretty Beach Public School," said Umina principa, Ms Lyn Davis.

"Our Year 5 team were given the topic: Parents and teachers should collaborate to ensure that students only have one hour of device/screen time per day.

"Our students were the negative team and had to disagree with this topic.

"Their arguments included: Students use devices for a lot of important learning tasks at school and that one hour was not enough time, that kids need to learn to be tech savvy for the future and that it is difficult for parents to enforce this at home.

"It was a very tricky topic and the debate was awarded to Kincumber Public School," Ms Davis said.

The Year 6 team were given the topic: All advertisements for children under 18 should be banned.

"Our students were the negative team and had to disagree with this topic.

"Their arguments included: Advertisements are helpful because they let you know when sales are happening and it can help people to spend less money, not all advertisements are for commercial products such as ads for services like the Kids Help Line and Lifeline assist children to seek help for mental health issues and that parents don't have to buy everything that their child sees in advertisements.They can say no.

"Umina were awarded the winners of the debate.

"The next round of debates will occur towards the end of term."

The Year 5 team will debate Empire Bay Public School and the Year 6 team will debate Ettalong Public School, Ms Davis said.

SOURCE:

Newsletter, 19 Jun 2018

Lyn Davis, Umina Beach Public School