The day started with a debate about the values of RAP and Hip Hop culture. Two teachers from Riddlesdown Collegiate; Mr Foney and Mr Moorhouse took part in a debate with Tom Slater, a music journalist who writes for the Times and 'Spiked'. The debate was chaired by Dave Bowden a representative from the Institute of Ideas.
The second debate on whether offensive language should be censored was chaired by Geoff Kidder, from the Institute of Ideas. College VI students Tosin Olorunfunmi, Gil Yehezkel, Robert Hoare and Annie Hoban were on the panel.
The afternoon started with a debate entitled 'Is Ten Too Young to be a Criminal?' The participants in this debate were Luke Gittos, a young Solicitor working in Criminal Law and Legal Editor for the magazine Spiked; Councillor Simon Hoar- a former Riddlesdown student, Conservative Member for Waddon Ward and the Cabinet Member with responsibility for Community Safety and Public Protection and our Chair of Riddlesdown Collegiate Academy Trust (RCAT), Paul Khan, a Detective Sergeant with the Metropolitan Police. As well as witnessing good academic debate about how morality develops and what it means to be moral, the students had the privilege of listening to experts in the field of law.
David Bowden, Project Manager at the Institute of Ideas said:
"I was really impressed by how students engaged with each debate. They raised really complex, interesting arguments. They weren't afraid to challenge the opinions of the panel."
To complete the day, students had the choice of joining in with a mock trial or listening to a lecture by the inspirational Professor of Classics, Peter Jones. Professor Jones introduced students to the Greek and Roman Philosophies of self and what it means to live a good life.
Peter Jones said:
"Opening a debate about how we live life today in light of how people led their lives 2000 years ago was challenging, eye opening and exciting"
The Institute of Ideas is a prestigious organisation that holds conferences, forums and salons in order to expand the boundaries of public debate.
