Bishop Cotton School To Hold Jubilee Celebrations for Slater Debates

Bishop Cotton School will be holding Jubilee Celebrations to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Samuel Slater Memorial English Debates, which were first held at Bishop Cotton School (BCS) in Shimla in 1996. The Slater debate competition was established in honour of the boarding school's first Headmaster, Samuel Slater. Over the years, the coveted competition has expanded and now draws competitors from some of India's top academic institutions. This year, BCS will welcome 31 debate teams on its campus for a four-day event beginning on October 17, 2022, to commemorate 25 years of the inter-school tournament.

About Bishop Cotton School, Shimla

Bishop Cotton School (BCS) is a boys' school affiliated with the Indian School Certificate Examination Council (CISCE). The school was founded in 1859 by Bishop George Edward Lynch Cotton, and it is located in the Shimla Hills. Bishop Cotton School (BSC) has a long history that goes back more than 150 years. It is one of the oldest boys' boarding schools in all of Asia and one of the first ‘public schools’ in India. The school is currently under the leadership of headmaster Matthew John. “Bishop Cotton School strives to achieve and maintain the highest level of excellence in its whole-educational curriculum, empowering men rooted in Indian heritage to live as devoted and devout as possible,” according to the school’s official website.

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Some of the top students from classes 10 to 12 will debate on 145 different topics at eight different locations throughout the school. A variety of topics will be covered, from the difficult ones like "physical punishment by parents," "selling of human organs," and "nuclear war," to the lighter ones like "video games make you smarter," "Bollywood is better than Hollywood," and "social media is making us less social."

“This event brings together and celebrates some of the best young minds in India today. The Slater debates embrace the view that life is about learning by disagreeing, in a friendly atmosphere, and that free speech is the best way to gain new knowledge and that censorship is inimical to progress," remarks Simon Weale, Bishop Cotton School’s Director.

The purpose of the event is to give students a substantial training ground for developing their communication skills and to provide learning opportunities where students can gain proficiency based on reliable educational and communication ideas.

Headmaster Mathew P John who was instrumental in setting up the original debates competition in 1996 said; “We’re very excited to be holding the Jubilee celebrations after a Covid break. The debating tournament was inaugurated in 1996 as a platform for young men and women from across the country to interact and build lasting relationships while testing their skill and wits against each other. We’re looking forward to some very interesting debates from some talented students.”

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