ON Saturday, February 9, young members of Rotary Interact Clubs, based at schools in Barnard Castle and Darlington, competed in a debating competition at All Saints church hall, Darlington.
This was a new venture instigated by Barnard Castle Rotary Club and supported by their Darlington colleagues.
The young people aged up to 18, were required to debate real world issues.
Students from Barnard Castle School started the competition by arguing for the motion that “humanity should fear advances in artificial intelligence” while students from Polam Hall School, Darlington, argued against.
In the second debate, Teesdale School put forward arguments for the motion that “social media sites should filter out fake news stories” , with pupils from QE Sixth Form College arguing against.
In addition to the inter-team debate, all participants answered questions from the judges and audience members – with the judges commenting on their outstanding grasp and depth of knowledge about the complex issues being debated.
The overall winning team comprised Teesdale School sixth formers Jake Knight and Cal Baker.
They were presented with trophies by the chairman of the judging panel Michael Colclough, head of operations of the Sunderland AFC charity Foundation of Light.
All participants received certificates and cash prizes.
The audience of some 80 people, included Barnard Castle mayor Cllr Sandra Moorhouse and her consort, husband Ian, the deputy mayor of Darlington Cllr Ian Gallatley and senior Rotarians from throughout the north east.
