ACC E S S I N G PERSPECTIVE T H R O UG H DEBATE An intensely lit stage lined with poised students ready to do battle with mastery of argument and prose: it’s the image that comes to mind when we think about debate. But, Drew Vodrey, MYP Individuals & Societies Curriculum Coordinator and Teacher and debate team coach, emphasises that competitive debate and the life-skill are two very different things. “Competitive debate may be exciting to watch but it is focussed on winning, it’s about dominating another team. But through the practice of non-adversarial debate, students gain skills that are two-fold,” explains Drew. “First, it pushes them into contentious or broad issues, such as domestic and international policy, values, and current events that spark examination through multiple lenses. Second, students are encouraged to debate from a side that is not their own to see how others view various issues and advocate for them. To create a genuine and authentic argument from another point of view is a very rich learning experience.” Development of the skill typically begins in the Junior and Middle School with a false binary of two ideas (for example, girls are better than boys). By Senior School and the IB Theory of Knowledge course, students mature into a more nuanced approach where they can discriminate the finer aspects of an argument to see micro-interpretations (such as assessing religious beliefs as they relate to cultural and community connections). The ability to access all of these perspectives and explore them thoroughly opens one’s mind to many possibilities. “Students learn to access different points of view and that there can be a spectrum of thought,” adds Drew. “This enables them to think more critically and use their skills to navigate what does and doesn’t make sense. Intellectual agility is about being able to pivot, discern the values, honour difference and disagreement, and effectively address various perspectives. We focus on improving the argument, not just turning up the volume.” Our world is full of varied perspectives, some overtly in opposition and others more subtly nuanced. By developing debate skills and the capacity to access other points of view, even if they disagree, students expand their thinking and find their way to their own set of beliefs and convictions.
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