Okay guys, I am shell shocked!!

I am no withering willow. Strong minded, opinionated and downright stubborn are pretty much words that get bandied around behind my back all the time!

I have just come from taking my Grade 8 kid to a debating contest - these kids 14 years old are goooooooood! They discuss issues like animal rights vs traditional culture - think Tony Yengeni (sp?) , should legislation limiting the number of children to each family be implemented etc.

They refute, rebut, propose, oppose, decline points of order, call on points of order and provide closing arguments like any good lawyer would. Sure sometimes their points are invalid, but if this is the level at which our kids are being asked to think and act - I look forward to our future BIG TIME!

In the interim, is there someone out there that can protect us unsuspecting parents against aspirant debaters?