St. Augustine's Day School hosts Frank Anthony Memorial All India Inter School Debate competition

St. Augustine's Day School, Barrackpore, hosted the Frank Anthony Memorial All India Inter School Debate competition for Category 1, Stage 2 for classes XI and above, the most prestigious inter-school, Annual Debate Competition organised by the Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CICSE), where fourteen highly esteemed pan India schools participated in this round.

The entrancing aura of anticipation was palpable as the clock struck 9:30 a.m., ushering in the commencement of the registration process for the participating schools. With bated breath, participants and attendees alike eagerly awaited the dawn of the competition. The topic was only revealed to the students, by our respected Principal madam, an hour before the actual debate by way of opening a sealed envelope in their presence. In adherence to tradition, participants were allotted a concise span of four minutes to articulate their arguments, followed by an additional two minutes dedicated to inquiries and rebuttals. During the preceding hour, they were afforded access to journals, magazines, and other books from the library in order to cultivate a reservoir of substance for their forthcoming orations. No internet access or use of any electronic devices was permitted and referring to a written script during their speaking time was strictly discouraged.

Exultation and honour swelled within the hearts of Augustinians, as we were graced with the distinguished presence of Mr. Pradeep Gooptu as the moderator for the debate. He is a trustee of the Calcutta Debating Circle and also, the founder and secretary of the liberal think tank Bengal Initiative & its research, writing & publishing wing. Following his eloquent and revered introduction, a well-deserved felicitation was extended to him by our esteemed Principal. The flow of the program began as the student Emcees Sudarshana Ghoshal and Karan Tripathi of class XI, called upon the school choir for the prayer song, heralding the inception of this grand event with the blessings of the Almighty

With the motion, "Social Media has helped to Build a Stronger Community" the participants of renowned schools like La Martiniere for Girls, Loreto day school, Bowbazar, and Don Bosco Park Circus, to name a few, set about to speak their minds on the rationale, either for or against the motion. The participants, armed with statistics and data, made their arguments more emphatic with their righteous facial expressions and voice modulation. They exhibited great oratory skills. The competition was an enthralling experience for the speakers, the audience, as well as for the three highly esteemed judges. Among them, one adjudicator noted, "Truly, this was a contest of unparalleled rigour, where selecting a victor proved more daunting than the struggle itself". Our principal madam, along with the moderator handed over the prestigious prizes to the budding debaters of LA MARTINIERE FOR GIRLS as they qualified to the next level.

With a wide spectrum of contrasting views, all the members of the house had at least something to learn, as the participants agreed to disagree. The program concluded with the vote of thanks followed by the national anthem joined by the on-stage members and the Student council of the school and the audience, as a symbol of unity and pride. As the curtain descended on the day's festivities, parcels of sustenance were dispensed, bringing smiles to the faces of participants and students, gracefully punctuating the day's proceedings.