IS it time to reintroduce National Service in the UK? Is it time to change the working week to four days?
Those were among the topics debated in the annual Llanelli Rotary Club Youth Speaks competition held at St John Lloyd Roman Catholic School.
The annual competition saw teams from St John Lloyd, Bryngwyn and Coedcae schools go head-to-head in the bid to get through to the next area round of the competition.
The Youth Speaks competition, which culminates in a national UK final, is designed to build confidence and teamwork in teenage school pupils.
The Youth Speaks platform recognises that it is becoming increasingly important for young people to present their balanced thoughts and views in a professional and articulate way.
In an age when everything seems to revolve around taps and swipes on mobile phones, it makes a refreshing change to see youngsters stand up and express their views before an audience.
“The quality of the arguments presented was outstanding and the children taking part reflected great credit on their schools, teachers and families,” said the chairman of the Llanelli Youth Speaks judging panel Lt Colonel David Mathias.
In the junior intermediate category, the team from St John Lloyd School emerged as the winners after debating ‘Reimagining the working week: is the four-day-week the answer?’
The team members, Gabriel Campbell (chair), Steven Saji (Proposer) and Elliot Fouracre (Opposer), also won the individual awards in the category.
In the senior category, the team from St John Lloyd School also came out on top after debating ‘Reintroducing National Service in the UK’.
The team members, Taliesin Padraig Owen-Davies (chair), Sophia Lawrence (Proposer) and Katie Evans (Opposer), also won the individual awards in the category.
Runners-up in the senior category were the team from Bryngwyn, made up of Isabel Barrah (chair), Jessica Murphy (Proposer) and Natalia Rychlicka (Opposer). Their topic was ‘The death penalty should return’.
Runners-up in the junior category were the team from Coedcae, made up of Ellie Wills (chair), Katie Turner (Proposer) and Nell Jones (Opposer). Their topic was ‘Is the world becoming too much of a dangerous place for children?’
The winners in both categories go forward to an area final to be held in Carmarthen on January 30.
Senior judge Lt Col Mathias said: “The standard in the competition was exceptionally high – as it is every year – and the competitors made the judging task a very difficult one.”
Llanelli Rotary Club president Cerith Owens explained that the Youth Speaks event offered an opportunity for Llanelli pupils to gain experience of speaking on a public platform.
He said: “It allows young people to form ideas on significant subjects and learn high standards of expression, presentation and appearance. It also gives pupils the experience of accepting impartial assessments and constructive criticism.”
The competition was run to a national Rotary format, which included a question from the floor. The main speakers for each team faced the daunting task of fielding an unrehearsed question from Llanelli Rotary Club member Mike Goodfellow-Smith.
Rotary President Mr Owens added: “The youngsters coped admirably with the questions – not an easy task in front of a sizeable audience at the main hall at St John Lloyd. It was a very entertaining and thought-provoking evening with some challenging arguments being put forward by pupils who had obviously done their homework and research.”
The judging panel was – Lt Colonel David Mathias, Deputy Lord Lieutenant and distinguished military historian (chair), Rotarian Susan Roberts, a retired charity worker, and Julia Goodfellow-Smith, author and blogger.
The MC for the evening was Rotarian Past President Robert Lloyd and the timekeeper was Rotarian Richard Harries.
The event was organised by a team led by Rotarians Dr Kevin Jones and Julie Jones. Prizes were handed out by Llanelli Rotary Club President Cerith Owens.
The event was officially opened by Carmarthenshire County Council chair Cllr Handel Davies.
Llanelli Rotary Club President Cerith Owens with Rotarian Dr Kevin Jones and the winning senior team from St John Lloyd school – Taliesin Padraig Owen-Davies (chair), Katie Evans (Opposer) and Sophia Lawrence (Proposer).
Llanelli Rotary Club President Cerith Owens with Rotarian Dr Kevin Jones and the winning junior team from St John Lloyd school – Elliot Fouracre (Opposer), and Steven Saji (Proposer). Gabriel Campbell (chair) was unavailable for the photocall.
Llanelli Rotary Club President Cerith Owens with the team from Bryngwyn – Jessica Murphy (Proposer), Isabel Barrah (chair) and Natalie Rychlicka (Opposer).
Llanelli Rotary Club President Cerith Owens with the team from Coedcae – Katie Turner (Proposer), Nell Jones (Opposer) and Ellie Wills (chair).
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