ESU Schools Mace
Encyclopedia
The English-Speaking Union Schools Mace is an annual debating
tournament for secondary school
s in England
, Ireland
, Scotland
and Wales
.
The competition was founded in 1957 by the journalist Kenneth Harris of The Observer
newspaper, and was initially known as The Observer Schools Mace. Since 1995, the tournament has been organised by the English-Speaking Union
, with assistance from several regional convenors.
Schools across the United Kingdom
and the Republic of Ireland
are eligible to enter one team in the championships each year, made up of two student debaters from the school. Teams compete in area qualifying rounds, with the best performing teams going on to the national finals to determine an English, Irish, Scottish and Welsh champion team. These four teams then compete in an International Final to determine the overall champions. The championship trophy is known as the Silver Mace.
The equivalent competition for universities in the UK and Ireland is the John Smith Memorial Mace
.
Debate
Debate or debating is a method of interactive and representational argument. Debate is a broader form of argument than logical argument, which only examines consistency from axiom, and factual argument, which only examines what is or isn't the case or rhetoric which is a technique of persuasion...
tournament for secondary school
Secondary school
Secondary school is a term used to describe an educational institution where the final stage of schooling, known as secondary education and usually compulsory up to a specified age, takes place...
s in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
and Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
.
The competition was founded in 1957 by the journalist Kenneth Harris of The Observer
The Observer
The Observer is a British newspaper, published on Sundays. In the same place on the political spectrum as its daily sister paper The Guardian, which acquired it in 1993, it takes a liberal or social democratic line on most issues. It is the world's oldest Sunday newspaper.-Origins:The first issue,...
newspaper, and was initially known as The Observer Schools Mace. Since 1995, the tournament has been organised by the English-Speaking Union
English-Speaking Union
The English-Speaking Union is an international educational charity which was founded by the journalist Evelyn Wrench in 1918. The ESU aims to "bring together and empower people of different languages and cultures," by building skills and confidence in communication, such that individuals realize...
, with assistance from several regional convenors.
Schools across the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and the Republic of Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
are eligible to enter one team in the championships each year, made up of two student debaters from the school. Teams compete in area qualifying rounds, with the best performing teams going on to the national finals to determine an English, Irish, Scottish and Welsh champion team. These four teams then compete in an International Final to determine the overall champions. The championship trophy is known as the Silver Mace.
The equivalent competition for universities in the UK and Ireland is the John Smith Memorial Mace
John Smith Memorial Mace
The John Smith Memorial Mace is an annual debating tournament contested by universities in England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales....
.
See also
- John Smith Memorial MaceJohn Smith Memorial MaceThe John Smith Memorial Mace is an annual debating tournament contested by universities in England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales....
(universities competition) - English-Speaking UnionEnglish-Speaking UnionThe English-Speaking Union is an international educational charity which was founded by the journalist Evelyn Wrench in 1918. The ESU aims to "bring together and empower people of different languages and cultures," by building skills and confidence in communication, such that individuals realize...