From the echoes of "Honorable judges, worthy opponents!" to the final gavel, it has been an exciting year for the school’s Debate Club. Since October, the workshop has evolved from initial practice sessions into a formal event that demonstrated the students' growing confidence and reasoning skills.
From research to rhetoric: the workshop journey
This has been the third year of our debating club at school aiming to foster special talents. This year’s workshop led by Prof. Maru Ceccon and Prof. Almut Sparer began in October with a group of 12 participants. Meetings were held twice a month, focusing on several key areas of communication: Students learned to construct structured arguments using supporting evidence and research. The sessions focused on using sophisticated linguistic markers to connect ideas logically. In addition, the participants practiced non-verbal communication, including eye contact and body language in general as well as articulation. Our debaters also conquered the physical challenges of the stage, practising to stand tall and speak confidently into a microphone.
They also refined their time management skills, learning to work both effectively and efficiently within strict time frames. Crafting five-minute or three-minute speeches was a challenging hurdle at the beginning, but through persistence, they learned to condense complex ideas into punchy, persuasive points.
During the practice sessions, students engaged in challenging as well as amusing debates on a variety of topics, such as the four-day working week, the effectiveness of New Year’s resolutions for personal growth, the philosophical question of whether humans are naturally selfish as well as whether parents should tell their children the truth about Santa Claus. Perhaps most importantly, the workshop served as a masterclass in teamwork. The students practiced the essential art of holding a group together and deciding on tactical strategies under pressure. They navigated the difficult process of finding a consensus when weighing conflicting arguments. And, in the spirit of true collaboration, they learned to handle the smaller tests of patience - whether it was accepting a teammate’s choice of an "unauthorized" highlighter color or gently pleading with a partner to stop scribbling onto their carefully prepared notes. These moments of shared humor and compromise were what truly turned a group of individuals into a unified team.
In one of the workshop sessions, a short film was produced together with Prof. Bernhard Lackner and his team of motivated students, to demonstrate how a debate works. On that occasion, our debaters really enjoyed the opportunity to perfect their acting and directing skills, not to mention the finer points of "debate drama": They spent time mastering the art of the nonchalant hand-wave to coolly refuse a Point of Information, and even practiced a "Western duel" showdown stare as a brilliant, cinematic way to finish off the promotional video.
Showdown in the Aula Magna
The workshop concluded on Friday, April 24th, with the first formal "Debating Day" held in the Aula Magna, which was one of numerous events organised as part of the 75th anniversary celebration of our school.
The Motion, which was chosen for this year’s day of debating, was: This House believes that a universal basic income should be implemented in Italy.
We started off in the morning with a brief meditation to mentally prepare for the upcoming verbal battle. Eagerly the debaters were awaiting the toss of the coin to determine their positions: Proposition or Opposition, in favour or against the motion. Students were then given a set amount of time for their research and preparation.
At 10:40 am, the debate finally began in the Aula Magna before an interested audience of students and faculty. The event was hosted by Giacomo De Mattia (5Gym), who introduced the teams and briefly explained the rules of the format to the spectators.
The Lineup: Meet the debaters
Proposition: Nathan Previdi (5CS), Rebekka Adami (4CS), Caroline Lusetti (4AS), and Emil Ciola (2Gym);
Opposition: Seamus Wimhurst (5CS), Thea Gamper (4CS), Nora Candioli (2Gym), and Sebastian Rebellato (4AS);
During the very balanced debate, we heard some strong arguments from the proposition: Rebecca stated: UBI would create a level of financial independence that people have never had before. Financial security works like a safety net and reduces the fear of failure. Therefore it makes people more willing to take risks and increases the desirability to build their own business.
Then Thea, who was speaking for the opposition countered: Italy already struggles with a shadow economy. Far from fixing this, a UBI provides a financial floor that makes undeclared work even more attractive. A recipient can maintain their UBI while working off the books to supplement their income, without moving into a higher tax bracket.
Throughout the debate, points of information, during which the teams can ask for clarifications from their opponents, kept the debaters on their toes.
The gavel falls: winners and best speakers
The performances were evaluated by a judging panel consisting of Prof. Julia Gartner, Prof. Udo Kotterer, Prof. Nadia Lorenzini and the two students, Aurora Bianchi (4AS), and Franziska Hochkofler (2BS). We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to our judges for gifting us their time and undivided attention. All three teachers fully immersed themselves in the format and the topic and listened intently to the debaters before engaging in a thorough consultation with our meticulous student judges. Working together, they evaluated each performance based on the clarity of speech, the strength of evidence, and the quality of the rebuttals. Every argument was weighed with care until the final points were awarded - a truly thrilling process to witness!
Following the deliberation, the judges announced the final results: Victory was claimed by the Opposition Team of Seamus Wimhurst, Thea Gamper, Nora Candioli, and Sebastian Rebellato, and Nathan Previdi (5CS) was recognized as the session’s Best Speaker.
The honourable judges were truly impressed by the speakers’ language and debating skills, their ability to reason effectively, and their confident presence on stage and agreed that a high standard was demonstrated by all participants.
The opposition distinguished themselves through their clarity of argument, the strong evidence, and the effective rebuttal. The best speaker excelled through his ability to construct well-reasoned, coherent, and persuasive arguments as well as his engaging delivery and ability to captivate the audience.
Recognition and appreciation reached a crescendo at the conclusion of the event when our principal, Ms. Adami presented the winning team and the best speaker with their prize money, honoring their success to the sound of a roaring audience. With eleven classes in attendance, the atmosphere was charged with excitement and applause. The debate sparked such interest that the discussion continued through a lively Q&A with the audience long after the formal speeches ended. Thank you to everyone who attended for your enthusiasm and support!
Beyond the podium
Our school is immensely proud of the dedication shown by this year's participants. Stepping up to the lectern in front of a full house to deliver a persuasive performance, all while keeping nerves and a racing heart in check, is a massive achievement! From perfectly timed rebuttals to the subtle use of body language and eye contact, these students proved that debating is as much a performance art as it is a mental marathon. Their ability to "think on their feet" while maintaining a confident stage presence was nothing short of inspiring, proving that they have not only found their voices but have learned how to use them with power and precision.
Congratulations to all our debaters for your hard work and for demonstrating the skills you acquired throughout the year! We are already looking forward to next year's Debate Club and competition, and we are always welcoming new members to join our ranks. Whether you are a seasoned speaker or just finding your voice, there is a place for you at the lectern!
