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The debate club
Educational facilities in most countries have school clubs and similar extracurricular activities as common and sometimes even as a mandatory part of education. These kinds of various activities after school hours have strongly been connected to better academic performance, time management and social skills. In Finland however, after school clubs are rarely seen, and even in these rare cases they are unlikely to receive any funding from the school or city. This is quite unfortunate as these clubs have a great potential, even in Finland's advanced educational system. In the face of this wasted potential, Daniel Björklund and Elias Ånäs have arisen to make a difference. These two have just some weeks ago formed their very own debate club in Mattlidens gymnasium. Hearing about this, a member of the Mattliden Bulletin went out and interviewed these revolutionary founders.
The idea for this had apparently come to Daniel and Elias while attending a debate club in another school. There they had then been suggested the idea of starting their own club in Mattliden, which they enthusiastically and confidently took ahold of. This was during the second period this year, after which they rapidly and efficiently worked their way into starting a debate club of their own.
- Was it easy to start this club? Did you face any difficulties?
I think it has gone pretty smoothly. I mean, there always is a possibility for problems when starting a new club. There were small worries, but none of them turned out to be significant, so it really was quite an easy process.
In the interview, the club leaders mentioned that they had received whole-hearted support from teachers during the starting process. They gave special recognition to Anna M, Becki and Jim for their extensive assistance.
- What in particular is it that you like about doing this?
I think that debating has great potential, and it will be fun to see how well we’ll manage to develop the club. You are also, in a sense, building a community where you get to meet new like minded people. There are also a lot of IB students attending this club, and it has been fun getting to know them as well.
They specifically underlined the idea of uniting the national and IB sides of the school. Since the increasing isolation experienced on both sides has lately been brought up as a major problem in Mattliden, it really shows the lack of actually having some sort of connection in between. A connection like this is something that the future community of the Mattliden debate club certainly has the potential to greatly contribute to.
“- What do you have planned for your club? How do you think it will progress from here on?
We are trying to shape this into a club with a great sense of community I hope. More than a debate club, just a… just a goofy little group.
But on a more serious note we also want to make debating in the long term a tradition at Mattliden and that it would outlast us. That somebody would pick up the mantle and continue the tradition. We also hope that we all will become better at communicating our ideas even after high school further in life.”
They also mentioned that they are planning on attending the Finnish national debating competition in January next year. They have decided to invest their freetime into this club so that they will be able to participate with their very own team and represent Mattliden in the nationals. There was also some talk of plans to take part in other competitions, and if the club succeeds well, possibly host smaller tournaments within Mattliden.
The Bulletin member who interviewed these founders had the day before attended one of the debate clubs sessions in order to get an understanding of what the hype was about. During this session, the club had held a practice debate amongst themselves. This was done by dividing the group into two teams, both sides separated in order to plan their arguments after which they had a formal debate against each other. The Bulletin member had been shocked to say the least, in the face of the professional, yet at the same time free spirited atmosphere that surrounded the debating.
“- How do you see this club being a part of your life in the future?
Debating is the richest gift one can get. Literally anything you do will involve debating on some level. You will always have to interact with people, and the better you talk, the more convincing you will be and the more you will get things in your way. There is no use in having great ideas if you can’t share them with other people.
- What kind of people do you think are most suitable for the Debate Club?
Anyone who is interested, it is a really versatile thing. You just need to have an open mind and be willing to come and debate. You don’t have to do it right, because you will learn eventually. You just need to want to be there and be ready to partake on either side of the debate. If you are interested, then give it a try.”
On a side note, the founders also mentioned that popcorn and mehukatti will be served in the near future.
This club provides the opportunity to learn about and practice the art of formal debating. This is also one of the greatest possibilities so far to create a connection and unite the national and IB sides of the school. Also, the evident positive effect that extracurricular activities have been proven to have on students welfare and social life shouldn’t be ignored either. It would be amazing if we were to see more clubs in other areas as well in the future, in order to make Mattliden a better place for all of us.
"- Is there something you would like to say to those who will read the Bulletin?
12th of January at 16:00 in room Q, see you there. Be gooby, goob well!"
KLUBBAR
Vill du gå till en klubb för att se vad de gör och vem som är där? Detaljerna om Mattlidens klubbar finns nedan.
Bulletin
Skapar Bulletinen så att vi kan sprida medvetenhet om vad som händer i skolan. En kurs för varje läsår du hjälper till/C.A.S. poäng.Träffas varannan tisdag i sal H kl 14.50
Trädgårdsarbete
Arbetar med att förbättra uteplatserna. Rensar, planterar blommor och jobbar med att skapa bänkar till innergården, kontakta Jamie.
Spel/schack
Anmälningsblad i julverkstäderna. Kontakta Jocke för mer information.
Bokklubben
Ny klubb som läser och diskuterar böcker på svenska. Kontakta Annika W.
Debatterar
Torsdagar 16.00 - 18.00 rum P och Q
Konst
Träffas på tisdagar, kontakta Fredricka
Teater
Träffas på torsdagar, kontakta Jim
CLUBS
Do you fancy popping along to a club to see what they are doing and who is there? The details of Mattliden’s clubs are below.
Bulletin
Creating the Bulletin so we can spread awareness of what is happening in school. One course for every school year you help out/C.A.S. points. Meets every other Tuesday in room H at 14.50
Gardening
Working to improve the outdoor spaces. Clears, plants flowers and is working on creating benches for the inner yard, contact Jamie.
Games/chess
Sign up sheets in the Christmas workshops. Contact Jocke for more information.
Bokklubben
New club reading and discussing books in Swedish. Contact Annika W.
Debating
Thursdays 16.00 - 18.00 rooms P and Q
Konst
Meets on Tuesdays, contact Fredricka
Theatre
Meets on Thursdays, contact Jim
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