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46 / Our Community

the schools’ decision to withdraw.
“No school should be exposed to
such pressure for doing something
that has long been a major part of
education,” the statement reads.
HKSDF refuses to self-censor de-
bate motions amid severe criticisms
made by the state media outlet and
pro-Beijing teachers’ organisations.
“We try our best to explain our val-
ues and ideas of the debate contest,”
HKSDF writes in a reply, “We will
keep doing all of these.”

Everything Is Debatable Statement from Education Convergence about the politicisation of debate contest.
(Photo courtesy of Education Convergence)
A secondary school debater who
addresses herself as Jose is one of the some topics might touch on politics. intellectual discussion.
participants of the Hong Kong Sec- “Nothing is absolute after all. Any- “For example, discussing police
ondary School Debate competition. thing can be a debate motion,” says disbandment does not only target on
The Form Five student finds the Jose. police brutality, the discussion also
“brainwashing” accusation made by Another student who identifies covers other related issues such as
Ta Kung Pao ridiculous. “We have herself as Ann was one of the par- the impact on governance and over-
the affirmative side and the negative ticipants of the Hong Kong Second- seas experience,” she says, “We don’t
side in a debate, so I do not see how ary School Debate Competition. Her simply argue on police brutality but
we can be brainwashed,” Jose says. school was one of the 24 schools we have to discuss issues like power
Jose started joining debate com- which decided to pull out from the vacuum with examples from foreign
petition five years ago. She thinks contest. Students were not consulted countries.”
debate motions adopted by HKSDF and were only informed about the
are timely and “more grounded”. decision afterwards. Debating Politics at Schools
“Many debate motions have been “It is our freedom to choose The political storm over the de-
used many times in other competi- whether to join the competition bate contest not only affects partici-
tions and we even call them ‘motion or not,” Ann says, expressing her pating schools. A secondary school
of all ages’,” Jose says, “The debate disapproval of being forced to quit which did not take part in the com-
topics selected by HKSDF are about the event. “I feel like we are being petition received a letter from the
current affairs which are really suppressed and the opportunity of Education Bureau due to parents’
worth discussing.” participating in the match is taken complaints about some interschool
As Jose is looking for opportuni- away,” she adds. activities which were perceived to
ties to discuss more “innovative” Equipped with three years of de- be held in favour of the anti-ELAB
topics, she shares her view that bating experience, Ann cites debate movement by parents. A teacher
everything is worth debating. She motion such as police disbandment who identifies himself as Keefe was
thinks debate motions cover all as an example to explain how the the organiser of a friendly debate
kinds of topics and it is natural that topic can help students develop an competition.
Since some debate motions of
“ the friendly match touched on po-
Nothing is absolute after all. litical topics, Keefe also received a
letter from the Education Bureau, re-
Anything can be a debate motion questing him to explain motives be-
hind the match and the motion, the
number of participants and whether
” alumni were involved.