Přejít k obsahu
From October 17–19, seven brave PORG Ostrava students journeyed to Mendel Grammar School in Opava to spend their weekend doing what most teenagers wisely avoid: arguing with strangers about government surveillance, housing policy, and the meaning of success.
We entered a record three teams this time, but fate (and possibly a suspiciously contagious pre-debate sleepover) struck down two members of The MACHO MEN!!! with fever right before the event. That left our remaining teams (¿PORG qué? with Martin Macek, Ondřej Vortel, Tomáš Hladný, and Zackary Minton and Las Debatadoras composed of Matylda Hudaček, Stefania Fabianová, and Naomi Lehner) to carry the PORG banner into rhetorical battle.
Over four rounds, our young debaters tackled motions (in English) that would make most adults break into a cold sweat:
- The proposed EU Chat Control regulation would bring more harm than good.
- Long-term vacant residential buildings should have their ownership transferred to municipal authorities.
- The narrative that hard work will lead to success brings more harm than good.
Each team earned one well-deserved win, and more importantly, sharpened their skills in logic, teamwork, and public speaking. Their coach (that’s me, Marcus Minton) was thrilled to see their progress (and possibly also thrilled to survive another tournament fueled solely by coffee and adrenaline).
Two of our debaters are now set to receive their Bronze Debate Pins at the next tournament in Hradec Králové, a milestone marking consistent participation and demonstrated growth across multiple competitions.
In short: we debated, we learned, we coughed a little, and we came home smarter. Not bad for a weekend’s work.
