By ZNS News
The Anatol Rodgers High School Debating Team smiling for the camera before debating against Government High School at the Southwestern Debate competition held on Thursday 5th November. Pictured L-R are: Mr. Kemel Mitchell, Miss Doniska Taylor and Miss Falesha Johnson [Photo: Aletha Cooper].
New Providence, Bahamas. 5th November, 2015. Anatol Rodgers captured the win against Government High School at the Southwestern District annual debate held on November 5th at A.F. Adderley Junior High School Gymnasium. The teams put forth compelling arguments to support their perspective on the topic: "Be it resolved that the Government of The Bahamas Should Legalize Marijuana." After an hour of intense debate, the judges awarded Government High School (The Opposition) with 301 points and Anatol Rodgers High School (The Proposition) with 329 points. Mr. Kemel Mitchell, third speaker for Anatol Rodgers and the only young man in the competition, was awarded overall best speaker.
District Superintendent Julian V. Anderson remarked that, "The art of debate is critically important for our students. It fosters critical thinking and it fosters teamwork. Every year I try to encourage our young men and women to participate in what I believe to be an invaluable extracurricular activity."
In January, Anatol Rodgers High School will advance to the Zone Competitions, which will include sixteen public and independent schools. For the first time, the team that will advance to the Zone Competition for the Southwestern District will be comprised of a mixed team of the best students and coaches from a few different schools in the area; a strategy that district teams from Grand Bahama have used in previous years