In Week 9, the Papanui High School Debate Team hosted the first ever Staff versus Student debate.

Teachers and students were a part of this historic event arguing whether THW (this house would) exempt Year13 students from wearing uniforms to school. 

• Staff Team (affirming): Daniel Scowcroft, Shelley James, Michael Smith, and Alex Aitken  

• Student Team (negating): Elisabeth Cox (Y12), Holly Haffenden (Y13), and Mark Zhang (Y12)

The debate was adjudicated by a member of the University of Canterbury debate team to make sure everything was fair and equal. What we didn’t expect were the amount of distractions Mr Scowcroft infiltrated throughout the debate. Distractions included: putting popcorn in the microwave, dance moves and even toying with the idea of getting the vacuum cleaner out.  Some argued it was a step too far… Some would argue that it was a very clever tactic. Perhaps, this will help form the moot for next year’s staff vs student debate. Our adjudicator awarded the teacher’s the win for the debate.