The St James High Debating Trio. From left to right: Narceeca Chambers, Krystia McDonald and Nadisha Levy. By Adrian Frater,
Staff Reporter
WESTERN BUREAU:
"YESTERDAY WE went up against Cornwall College in Kingston and we 'wap dem'," proclaimed an elated Hugh Dawes, the principal of St. James High School, as he beamed with pride at the school's assembly on Tuesday morning. "We can once again take great pride in the accomplishment of our students."
The source of Mr. Dawes' elation was the news that the St. James High team, which featured grade nine students, Nadisha Levy, Krystia McDonald and Narceeca Chambers, had upstaged Cornwall College in the quarter final of the National Debating Competition. The match-up took place in the studios of TVJ, in Kingston, on Monday afternoon. As a consequence of their victory over parish rivals Cornwall College, the confident St. James High team, which successfully argued the moot, 'Jamaica can look back with pride', have now earned the right to meet Wolmer's Boys', another of the high profile schools, in one of the two semi-final showdowns.
The opposition
"Having seen Wolmer's in action, we basically have an understanding of what they have to offer," said Noel Williams, who along with fellow teachers, reverend Calvin Brown, Gavin Edmond and Kimeka Peterkin, share the responsibility of preparing the St. James High team. "Our girls, despite being only 13, 14 and 15 years old respectively, continue to surprise the judges with their ability to present and defend their arguments."
In the earlier rounds of the competition, the St. James High successfully got by parish rivals Herbert Morrison and Mt. Alvernia High School, Trelawny's Westwood High School and the much vaunted six-formers of Titchfield, the team they eliminated to make the quarter-final. In their May 21 semi-final clash against Wolmer's Boys', the St. James High trio will be opposing the moot, 'Schooling interferes with education,' which Williams is quite comfortable with. According to him, they just need to put in their usual preparation and things should be okay.
"Krystia (McDonald) and Nadisha (Levy) have both been adjudged best speakers twice in our four wins," said Williams, who credits good preparation, teamwork and great research for the team's success. "When we compare the ages of our girls with those of their opponents, it speaks volume for their knowledge and debating skills."
For the ordinary students at St. James High, which only attained grant-aided high school status three years ago, beating Cornwall College in the National Debating Competition is a big boost in their bid to secure bragging right in Montego Bay. It should be noted that St. James High recently had two sporting victories over Cornwall College, beating them in both the KFC and WBA President Cup basketball competitions. "It is things like these that we hope will inspire our students to give of their best in all their endeavours," said Dawes, who has been principal at the school formerly Montego Bay Secondary School, since 1983. "We think we have three excellent debaters and we are quite hopeful that we can emerge as the overall champion."
Starting at the quarter final round, all games in the National Debating Competition are recorded at the TVJ studios and later shown on television.
