Christopher Pearson, best debater for 2008 and captain of the Tacius Golding High School team, accepts the championship trophy from Dianna Blake-Bennett, marketing manager of Burger King, title sponsor of the National Schools' Debate. Tacius Golding defeated Cornwall College in Sunday's final. - Colin Hamilton/Freelance Photographer

TACIUS GOLDING was on Sunday crowned Burger King National Schools' Debate champions, following victory over Cornwall College in the finals played at Television Jamaica (TVJ) studio, St Andrew.

The north St Catherine school, named in honour of the father of Prime Minister Bruce Golding, was also announced the most improved school in the competition.

Strong argument

Opposing the moot 'Men should lead', Tacius Golding, according to the judges, enunciated their arguments more clearly and refuted more effectively. Its first speaker, Christopher Pearson, was adjudged best speaker.

Cornwall's eloquent speakers advanced the argument that men should lead. The team of Mikhail Williams, Travis Aitkinson and Norman Malcolm, presented well-researched points and built strong arguments in support of their claims.

In support of women

However, Tacius Golding stood firm in opposing the moot. Among the arguments they advanced was that agreeing with the moot would relegate women to being mere followers. Cornwall attempted to counter this point by stressing that they were not comparing men to women.

Tacius Golding, meanwhile, reeled off a list of notable women who have been exemplary leaders. The list included civil rights symbol Rosa Parkes and United States Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.

Rochelle Jones, Tacius Golding's third speaker, pointed to Rice's mettle and contrasted it with Kern Spencer, who she said cracked under pressure by crying in Parliament.

The Tacius Golding team said it should not be the case that someone leads because he is a man. Instead, a responsible adult, whether male or female, should assume a leadership role as the situation dictates.