Activity 4.2.3 A Parliamentary Debate

Purpose

To express opinions on social challenges and to consider different perspectives

Materials

None

Time

1 hr

Method

1. Facilitators may ask participants for their views on the televised House of Commons debates. (The facilitator may want to copy a five-minute video sample of a House of Commons debate to view with the class if they are not familiar with these proceedings.) Inform participants about how these debates are usually carried out and the reasons for them. For example, Members of Parliament must first ask the Speaker of the House for permission to speak. The Speaker will say whether or not he/she will allow the Member to speak. This is done to keep some order in the House of Commons, and to give everyone a chance to be heard. However, in reality, discussions can become rather heated and members do not always pay attention to the rules. Inform participants that in our version of the activity, the rules will be respected.
2. Tell participants that you will act as the Speaker of the House and explain the Speaker’s role (to keep order in the House of Commons and ensure that everyone has a chance to speak). Also explain that before an MP can speak he/she must first ask the Speaker for permission. Tell participants they must address the Speaker as either “Mr. or Madam Speaker” and ask for permission to speak. Although this form of politeness is not always practised by our parliamentary members, I have found that it provides a calmer environment for participants to be better able to listen to another point of view and to not feel intimidated to speak. Facilitators can decide if they wish to use this rule or not.
3. Have participants line up in a single file (one person behind the other) and face the Speaker. The facilitator will instruct them to either take a step to the left or to the right, depending on how they feel about an issue. Movement towards the right means you agree with an issue; movement towards the left means you disagree. The interpretation of “left” or “right” views could also be further explored with participants. Inform participants that they cannot stay in the center; they must make a decision or “take a stand”.
4. The facilitator will raise a social challenge issue that is up for debate, and then ask participants to take a step either to the left or to the right, depending on whether they agree or disagree.
5. After participants have taken their step, ask them to now face the opposing members. Choose one participant to express his or her opinion on their choice to move to the left or right. All opposing voters should now be facing each other to express their opinions. Remind participants to ask the Speaker for permission to speak before they begin their argument.