Results of positive discrimination debate - Thursday 09 June 2011

Thanks to everyone who made it to Thursday's debate, particularly our four speakers: Michael, Babs, Araba, and Richard. We enjoyed a record attendance of 42 people in all and most importantly managed to hear from pretty much each and every one of you over the course of a passionate yet thoughtful debate.

Congratulations to Michael and Babs who persuaded the audience to support their proposals to increase the use of positive discrimination in the education system. Below are the results of the preliminary and final votes along with a brief summary of the arguments made by each side.

Preliminary Vote: For 9, Against 10, Abstentions 13
Final vote: For 19, Against 12, Abstentions 3

MOTION PASSES

Summary:

Definition: We would set a quota of state school pupils for admissions to Oxbridge based on the percentage of pupils studying at state schools.


Proposition: This measure will compensate those who have been disadvantaged by a lack of resources at a young age but still have enormous potential.
Opposition: This measure discriminates against hard working pupils and parents who use private sector education.

Proposition: Positive discrimination provides disadvantaged groups with role models at Oxbridge which will encourage them to strive.
Opposition: Positive discrimination will result in people being labelled. Those who succeed will be considered by society to be failures who were given an unfair leg up.

Opposition: All discrimination on the basis of race, gender, class etc is wrong.
Proposition: Positive discrimination in the education system will improve our society.

Opposition: If we want to improve lives we have to intervene at a much younger age.

Proposition: We agree that we have to intervene at a young age but think that we should also intervene at university.

Proposition: The government should use legislation to drive forward the cultural change that our education needs.

Opposition: Legislation won't work unless we have the cultural change first.


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