MRS. B. LAL INTER SCHOOL DEBATE

*“Healthy debate occurs when people can agree that they have differences of opinions, not differences of facts.”*

Debate is not about winning or losing, but about challenging ideas, expanding perspectives, and learning to listen as much as we speak."

The Debate Competition organised by WHITEHALL SCHOOL was a resounding success, showcasing the intellect, eloquence, and confidence of the students from different schools of district Nainital.

The event aimed to foster intellectual growth, encourage public speaking, and promote healthy competition among students.

Mrs. Barbara Lal Memorial Inter School English Debate was held on 25 November 2024. The event was organised in the memory of Mrs. Barbara Lal, who was the founder member of WHITEHALL SCHOOL. She was an idol, a visionary and a legend.

There were two categories in this competition. Each category was allotted with the following topics:

*Category A- Grade IX & X (English Debate)- Tourism school be curbed in order to save the environment.*

*Category B- Grade XI & XII (English Debate)- Journalism is the fourth pillar of democracy.*

Top eleven schools participated in the event and showcased their students' talent.

St. Theresa, Little Scholars, BLM Academy, Inspiration, Dikshant International, Gurukul International, Saraswati Academy, DAV, St. Paul, Naini Valley & Whitehall School.

The event took place in the school premises and was honoured by the presence of Mrs. S. Lal, Director of Whitehall School, who warmly welcomed the participants and extended her best wishes for the competition. The debate was evaluated by Ms. Kiranjot Punian Gill, Ms. Shivanjali Kashyap  & Ms. Mukta Shoaib.

The orators were judged on the following parameters:

*Content of Argument

Diction

Oratory Skills

Clarity

Rebuttal *

The winners from each category were as followed:

Category A: Best Speaker- Kartik Pandey(Whitehall School)

Most Promising Speaker- Shreyasi Tiwari(Little Scholars)

Promising Speaker-Divyanshu Upreti (Saraswati Academy)

Category B: Best Speaker- Kushagra Upadhaya (Saraswati Academy)

Most Promising Speaker- Shristi Sharma (St. Theresa)

Promising Speaker- Manas Lamgaria (Gurukul International School)

Best Orator- Rakshit Joshi (Whitehall School)

The inter-school debate competition was a great success, bringing together bright young minds in a celebration of intellectual exchange. The event not only showcased the students' debating abilities but also emphasised the importance of respectful discourse and the power of diverse viewpoints. The outstanding performances of the orators from each school made the competition a truly exceptional event. Their hard work, perseverance, and commitment to excellence shone through in every speech, making it clear that the future of debate is in capable hands.