The Harrovian Vol

THE HARROVIAN VOL. CXXXIII NO.24 June 11, 2021 system. However, that was not the full extent of the problem. LORD’S Not only that, but the big bad Harrovians and Etonians would Eton v Harrow at the MCC go flooding into the state sector to make classrooms blow up like balloons and make teachers complain even more about conditions. Furthermore, it was a move that would discourage teachers from entering their profession. According to Li, although beaks claim to teach for their love of learning, “perhaps they might think differently if robbed of their vacation time and, in the case of SWB, North Yorkshire pub crawls”. Full report and scorecard on page 1096’. DEBATING SOCIETY “This House would ban private schools”, 25 May The Master-in-Charge of Debating, SMK, then decided to Proposed by the beaks, opposed by the boys school the boys in how it was really done. With all the aggression of a lesser spotted member of the ovine class, he delivered his On the last Tuesday before half-term, the Debating Society rebuttals to the original argument and doubled down on the met for its first exhibition match with a live audience since strategy the previous speaker had so neatly laid out. However, the COVID-19 pandemic began: a well-attended showpiece what was lacking in aggression was more than made up with event to kickstart the return to normalcy. In what we hope will charisma. Showing the persuasion that convinces 53 boys a year become an annual fixture, the Beaks IV took on the Boys IV to learn a language with which they couldn’t even use to order in a British parliamentary-style debate. a pint on a modern-day Mediterranean holiday, he rounded off Rather divisively, SPS (the appointed chairman) decided to a strong opening-half case from the proposition. set the motion “This house would abolish private schools”, with However, what came next was what really got the crowd the beaks poised to propose. However, much to his dismay, he going. Armed with his signature smirk and a back pocket full of became unable to attend on the day, so CER kindly stepped in roasts which had been carefully worded by his more humorous to chair. Nonetheless, the debate got off to a strong start with colleagues the evening before, Aakash Aggarwal, Lyon’s,expressed Mr Dolan (the School coach, who accurately self-identifies as his shopping list of egg-and-toast-based reasons why private a “small, confused and angry Scotsman”) proposing a two- schools were not only necessary but a good thing. In his short pronged attack on the private sector. First of all, he proposed amount of allotted time, not only did Aggarwal manage to make that private schools hurt the students who exist outside the it so the viewing audience would never see their honourable system, an argument much expected by the not-so-sympathetic Masters the same way again and play an offensively microscopic Harrovian audience. However, the second argument came as violin for SEND pupils, but he proved just how begrudging something more of a surprise. Mr Dolan, clad for the first time he was on the extra pennies the taxpayer would have to drop in a beak’s gown, proposed that private schools don’t help the in order to give his Catholic comrades their transubstantiated people attending them. The point of a private school is to set up wafer at the lunch table. As you can probably already tell, it individuals to become effective leaders of others. However, the was altogether a vintage Harrovian-style performance. private system means that they get raised out of touch with the Next, came SWB, springing into the air, having recently been people they are trying to serve. The result of this is a paradox on the receiving end of a snide remark about the utility (or lack in which they are not able to lead effectively when they get thereof) of the School’s Theology & Philosophy Department. into the positions private schools attempt to project one into. Much like his form room chastisement of a Yarder-related To counter, Haiwei Li, Bradbys,came out of the blocks with excuse about some Shell boy’s lack of prep, SWB was keen to a resource-based argument. Fresh faced and generously clad emphasize the concept of “taking ownership” in education. He with the confidence only available to a man who had just woken argued that abolishing private schools would force the societal from a deep slumber, Li claimed that the abolition of private elites (who previously sent their children to private schools) schools would take away from the resources of the education to start taking an interest in how things were plodding along June 11, 2021 T H E H A R R O V I A N down at the local state school. By making parents a stakeholder SHAFTESBURY ENTERPRISE in the debate, SWB was making parents a stakeholder in the Nabs Suma and Serge Betsen, ‘The Rashford effect – education system. Co-captain William Wauchope, The Knoll, was up next. With sporting success and philanthropy’, 26 May fish-out-of-water eyes and a lack of notes which could only indicate having spent perhaps too much time preparing for The On 26 May, the Shaftesbury Enterprise Society welcomed Nabs Knoll House play, he took to the lectern. However, as soon as Suma and Serge Betsen, who gave the audience an insight he began to go, his Gatling gun pace took the floor by storm. on their journeys from their major success in rugby to their With an argument about how inequality exists in the state philanthropic lifestyles. By explaining how they channelled sector already, both because of regional discrepancies and the their success into helping others, they inspired the listeners from insidious creepy-crawly effects of the blight that is tutoring, he abroad and in speech room to emulate their vast achievements. showed that perhaps abolishing private schools would do more Indeed, throughout the talk, we heard how both Mr Suma and to worsen than improve inequality in this country. However, Mr Betsen have used the values and virtues picked up from perhaps the best testament to the quality of Wauchope’s speech sporting experience to, in turn, help others to grow and develop came from MJG in the audience, who this author can attest into better people. is an extremely difficult man to please in all walks of life. However, the usually uncomplimentary MJG said afterwards that the arguments on inequality had won the day. Nabs Suma, an Old Harrovian of The Park, began his ten-year rugby career in 1990 for Wasps. He earned numerous accolades, perhaps the most impressive of which was his unbeaten season in the Wasps Colts team (1990/91). Following his successful (Above: SWB takes on the boys in the OH Room.) career, he dedicated his time to philanthropy, becoming part of InterContinental Exchange and working as a cocoa specialist. Finally, it came for FSW of the English Department to speak. Through this, he was able to create several commodity-based As a former captain of debating at Winchester College, the businesses, from exporting cocoa to developing wholesale bar of expectations was set extremely high for FSW to vault. chocolate for Fairtrade chocolate brands. As well as this, he However, it seemed that the speaker was equally interested in is currently part of the Trustees of Wasps Legends Charitable setting the debating society “Just Dance” heatmap record as Foundation, with the aim to make a positive difference to winning the debate, strutting around the Old Harrovian Room individuals by utilising the character and collective spirit of like he had single handedly donated the £100 million necessary the Wasps family. to inflate the 450 fund. After a rather comprehensive anecdote Like Mr Suma, Serge Betsen too has had a ‘Rashford effect’ about which sporting columnists he liked to read in the kinds on the lives of many people. During his time in the French of broadsheets that only private school alumni who work at rugby team, he became a very renowned player, so much so independent schools are interested, FSW strongly rounded off that he is considered as being one of the best flankers of his the proposition case with a smattering of Churchillian rhetoric generation. Indeed, he is known for his relentless man-marking about levelling the playing field. Perhaps the society has found of Jonny Wilkinson. His success for France is represented by a new beak to co-opt into the mix… his French Player of the Year award in the World Cup, and his That is not, however, to say that there was much better a award for the most tackles made. Similar to Suma, Mr Betsen performance by the other half of the current captaincy. Although also proceeded to devote his time to helping others, making Dylan Winward, Lyon’s, has been long reputed as a talented the Serge Betsen Academy in order to do so. On top of this, organiser of spreadsheets, it had now been a while since he he began the Serge Betsen Consulting company in the hope of had properly found himself tested in front of an audience. helping business teams maximise performance and achieving Furthermore, it was found with much disappointment that his objectives. usual trick of evaluating the clashpoints at 300 million miles an Nabs Suma began the talk and highlighted three virtues that hour did stun his opposition as it usually would. Nonetheless, are imperative for success: resilience, confidence and leadership.

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