Scottish pupils to debate ‘harmful’ internet in national competition

12th November 2015 | Law Society news

Pupils from schools across Scotland are getting ready to debate the pros and cons of the internet in the opening rounds of the Law Society of Scotland’s annual debating tournament.

The Donald Dewar Memorial Debating Tournament will see 128 teams from 102 Scottish schools put their powers of persuasion to the test when they debate the motion ‘This House believes that the internet does more harm than good’. Now in its 16^th year, the competition is the biggest school debating tournament in Scotland and 14 more schools have entered for the first time this year.

Laura Gulliver, Careers and Outreach Manager at the Law Society, said: “It’s great to see so many schools entering teams in tournament and we’re delighted to have 14 schools taking part for the first time.”

“The internet is an amazing resource – from finding out about just about anything there is to know, doing shopping or booking a holiday - but of course there are issues around security and online criminal activity. We’ve set our teams a challenge by asking if the internet is harmful and I’m looking forward to hearing the arguments they put forward.

“Debating is a great skill to have which as well as being good fun. Many schools now have debating clubs and they really encourage pupils to learn how to build convincing arguments and give them a voice to express their views and opinions.

“The June final in the Scottish Parliament’s debating chamber was an exciting finish to the last tournament, with superb performances from some very talented young people, some who had entered the competition for the first time, as they debated whether the media should restrict coverage of terrorist attacks.”

The Law Society awards the first prize of £1,000 and the top two teams will share educational books to the value of £500 donated by the event sponsor, Hodder Gibson.

The opening rounds take place on will take place on 19, 25 November and 3 December. Further information about the tournament can be found at www.lawscot.org.uk/debating or contact debate@lawscot.org.uk.

The 2013/14 winners and runners up are featured in a Law Society video about the tournament which is available to watch online: www.lawscot.org.uk/debating.

All schools participating in the opening heats are listed below:

Schools from across Scotland will take part in this year’s debating tournament. Schools taking part for the first time are marked *

Name of School	Town
Albyn School	Aberdeen
Alness Academy	Alness
Arbroath High School	Arbroath
Auchenharvie Academy	Stevenston
Balfron High School	Balfron
Banchory Academy	Banchory
Barrhead High School	Glasgow
Bearsden Academy	Bearsden
Belmont Academy	Ayr
Biggar High School	Biggar
Boclair Academy	Glasgow
Bo'ness Academy*	Bo'ness
Boroughmuir High School	Edinburgh
Braes High School	Falkirk
Buckhaven High	Buckhaven
Caldervale High School	Airdrie
Cathkin High school*	Glasgow
Charleston Academy*	Inverness
Charleston Academy	Inverness
Clifton Hall School	Edinburgh
Craigholme School	Glasgow
Craigmount High School	Edinburgh
Cumbernauld Academy	Cumbernauld
Deans Community High School*	Livingston
Denny High School	Denny
Dollar Academy	Dollar
Douglas Academy	Glasgow
Dumbarton Academy	Dumbarton
Dumfries Academy	Dumfries
Duncanrig Secondary School	East Kilbride
Dunfermline High School	Dunfermline
Falkirk High School	Falkirk
Fernhill School	Glasgow
George Heriot's School	Edinburgh
George Watson's College	Edinburgh
Glasgow Gaelic school	Glasgow
Glenalmond College	Perth
Golspie High School	Golspie
Gordonstoun School	Elgin
Grove Academy	Dundee
Hazlehead Academy*	Aberdeen
Hermitage Academy	Helensburgh
High School of Dundee	Dundee
Hillpark Secondary	Glasgow
Holy Cross High School	Hamilton
Holyrood Secondary	Glasgow
Invergordon Academy*	Invergordon
Inverness Royal Academy	Inverness
Jordanhill School*	Glasgow
Kilsyth Academy*	Kilsyth
King's Park Secondary	Glasgow
Kinross High School	Kinross
Lanark Grammar School	Lanark
Lenzie Academy	East Dunbartonshire
Lochend Community High*	Glasgow
Lomond School	Helensburgh
Madras College	St Andrews
Mallaig High School	Mallaig
Marr College	Troon
Mearns Castle High School	Glasgow
Menzieshill High School	Dundee
Merchiston Castle	Edinburgh
Monifieth High School*	Monfieth
Morrison's Academy	Crieff
Nairn Academy	Nairn
Our Lady and St Patrick's High School*	Dumbarton
Our Lady's High School	Motherwell
Perth Academy	Perth
Prestwick Academy	Prestwick
Queensferry High School	Edinburgh
Renfrew High School	Renfrew
Robert Gordon's College	Aberdeen
Rosshall Academy	Glasgow
Saint Peter the Apostle High School	Clydebank
St Aloysius' College	Glasgow
St Andrew's and St Bride's High	East Kilbride
St Columba's School	Kilmacolm
St George's School for Girls	Edinburgh
St Joseph's College	Dumfries
St Margaret's Academy	Livingston
St Margaret's School for Girls	Aberdeen
St Mary's Music School	Edinburgh
St Paul's RC Academy	Dundee
St. Andrew's R.C. High School	Kirkcaldy
St. Margaret's High School	Airdrie
St. Maurice's High School	Glasgow
Strathallan school	Forgandenny
The Community School of Auchterarder	Aucherarder
The Glasgow Academy	Glasgow
The High School of Glasgow	Glasgow
The James Young High School*	Livingston
The Mary Erskine School	Edinburgh
The Nicolson Institute	Stornoway
The Royal High School	Edinburgh
Thurso High School	Thurso
Uddingston Grammar School	Uddingston
Wallace High School	Stirling
Wellington School	Ayr
Whitburn Academy*	Whitburn
Williamwood High School	Glasgow
Woodfarm High School*	Glasgow
Woodmill High School	Fife

ENDS 12 November 2015

Established in 1999, Scotland’s largest annual schools debating tournament is open to pupils in all Scottish secondary schools. Organised and run by the Law Society of Scotland, the tournament is dedicated to the memory of the former First Minister Donald Dewar MSP, who died in 2000.

Footage of the 2014/2015 tournament final is available from the Scottish Parliament https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FRXURZRvHpc

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: Please contact Sarah Sutton on 0131 476 8170 or email sarahsutton@lawscot.org.uk.