Debating US Civil Rights

Parallel History: Year 12 Debaters take on the question of US Civil Rights

“It is better to debate a question without settling it than to settle a question without debating it “-Joseph Joubert.

Our Year 12 Historians love a debate – and this week they tackled the question of whether the US Civil Rights Movement had achieved its aims during a debate on the online Debating forum Parallel Histories.

Our Year 12 teams have debated on numerous occasions this year, along with an enthusiastic Year 9 team and we have a Year 10 team waiting in the wings! Our debaters are both keen and are becoming quite accomplished in this art.

This topic was particularly relished, as it feeds into their A level curriculum directly and was therefore researched thoroughly and the arguments analysed and evidenced roundly. We received great feedback from the organisers, our debaters being commended on “their convincing arguments and delivery”!

As the French philosopher and essayist Joseph Joubert rightly said, this difficult question was keenly debated but not completely settled as our students recognised the steps from political to legal to cultural change that needs time to fully achieve.

More history issues debates are planned for the rest of the year as part of the Bishop’s varied Enrichment schedule.