Lois Sherwood (left), chairman of Burger King, presents the winning trophy to Orraine Daniel (right), student of Garvey Maceo High School, during the National Schools' Debate Competition finals and award ceremony held at TVJ studios in St Andrew yesterday. Looking on are members of the team, Andrew Blair (second left) and Giovanni Dennis. - Norman Grindley/Chief Photographer

Garvey Maceo High School had cause for celebration yesterday as they were announced the winners of the televised Burger King National Schools' Debate Competition.

The 128 schools that entered the competition had been whittled down to two, as the teams of Garvey Maceo and Tacius Golding high schools fought a war of words on the proposal, 'The future is not what it used to be', with Tacius Golding in opposition.

The combat raged across the fields of philosophy, history, futurology and lexicology, while weapons included nuggets of 1950s futurism and concepts of paradigm shift.

The battle never became a brawl, however, and both sides were complimented for their courteous and proper behaviour.

Teaching life skills

In her comments after the final, Dianna Blake-Bennett, marketing manager at Burger King, praised all the debaters for their coherency and analytical approach.

She said the history of the debate since 1987 had proven it to have "a positive impact on students and schools alike", and urged the students to "keep on doing what you're doing: being positive role models".

Norma Rochester, project manager for the debate, said the process of debate was important to developing crucial life skills.

"It teaches research, encourages eloquence and respect for the views of others," she told The Gleaner, "and shows that anybody can develop scholarship."

With the future so much in debate, both inside and outside of the studio, Rochester was hopeful that youngsters such as those present would have a positive impact.

"If these students take leadership and practise these skills, we should be in good hands," she said.

Giovanni Dennis, a member of the winning team and winner of the 'Best Debater' award, was equally full of praise for the competition.

"It moulds young minds, it is a positive thing in a world of crisis," he said.

Prizes were presented by representatives of the sponsors, Burger King, the RJR Group, TVJ, and The Gleaner Youthlink magazine.

oliver_hugo.clark@gleanerjm.com