Charting history onto a path to success requires effort. Also, perseverance and work. That was how he Municipal Polyvalent High School of the Municipal Corporation of La Florida (Comudef), was part of a key academic milestone. And it is that this venue participated in the final of the competition of the Ttournament of School Debates in Science and Technology 2022. Framed in the Explora program of the Ministry of Science, Technology, Knowledge and Innovation.
Therefore, this body aims to promote the socialization of knowledge within the educational community. In this way, it is intended to contribute to the development of skills in different areas of knowledge. As well as the technology and innovation of participating students and their school communities.
With all this, the philosophy professor of the Municipal Polyvalent Lyceum, Pablo Sanchez, had a key role. He led the team that participated in the debate tournament. His close relationship with the students and the link that he provides as a teacher, both from the humanities and under the gaze of science, was what catapulted him to be leading the participation of young people.
“We were never on a landline”
During the development of the final debates, held in the Hall Juliet Kirkwood, from the Faculty of Social Sciences of the University of Chile, the young Floridians, addressed, as a thesis in favor, the theme “Contaminants of pharmacological origin in household wastewater are the main threat of contamination in freshwater, a situation that weakens water security”. Here they competed with the position against this issue offered by Bernadette College, which is privately subsidized.
“We saw where the gaps were. Where the legislation failed and what were the risks. And based on that, we work. We have always psyched ourselves up and focused on a particular goal. And that’s what we focus on. Other issues that we worked on were that Claro de Voz has lost its cultural significance. A theme that goes hand in hand with sociology and linguistics. We also work on nuclear energy and pet care. We were never on a landline”argues Professor Pablo Sánchez.
They learned to investigate
“The experience that I can get from my participation in the debate tournament is that it helped me a lot personally academically. We learned to investigate, to obtain sources. To develop critical thinking. I really like to learn and investigate itself. I grew a lot personally”says one of the team members, Amparo Lobos, from Cuarto Medio B of the Municipal Polyvalent High School.
In turn, Bianca Laurel, from Tercero Medio F, points out that this instance provided them with knowledge to use in the future. For example, in a thesis for the university. “So I can defend myself with rational logical arguments. The learning that I obtained was from the guarantee, the bases and the support. They asked for a lot of dates (laughs)”. And adds: “It was a nice experience. We reached the final! It is always said that since we are from the municipal school, we do not know anything and we do not undertake.
The high school brand
In the opinion of the teacher, Pablo Sánchez, it is a challenge for a municipal establishment to compete with subsidized private facilities and paid individuals. “I consider that we are an excellent faculty. With good teachers. I greatly admire my colleagues. In the management of resources and in the things that we could ask of the attorneys, we are far behind ”, Sanchez confesses.
According to what the teacher explains, the teamwork of the group was key. In fact, the teacher recounts that they call themselves “The Ducklings Family” because of an anecdote in which, when going out to get ready, he walked in front and the girls lined up behind. “We had to act like a family. as long as possible”. For this reason, “the lesson he left (the students) is that if we all empower each other, we will cover our weaknesses and go further,” he says.
Relevant competencies
How is the team that starred in the contest made up? Through 11 students (mostly women, from first to fourth grade and one man), in addition to the philosophy professor and the head of the Technical Pedagogical Unit. As they explain from the Lyceum, it was necessary to see, previously, which students could participate. And from there, key concepts were obtained in relation to competencies, such as good research capacity, good public speaking, memory and sufficient confidence.
Within this framework, the technical coordinator of the Comudef Education Department, Cristina Hidalgo, indicates that “What was done at the Lyceum was super relevant. Not only for competing with paid individuals. But for themselves. To leave the most comfortable area. They have had to read scientific articles. Reading that young people usually do not read. Understanding and learning to debate these issues seems very important to me”.
A strengthened and twinned team
Meanwhile, according to the last classification table, the Municipal Polyvalent Lyceum was in 5th place, which, in the opinion of the teacher who leads the debate team, the position does not matter much, it goes to the background. Also, “I have a strengthened team, the girls who attend, they have a teacher they can trust and that is the greatest prize of all, more than the places”says Pablo Sanchez.
In short, 18 schools from 13 communes participated in the debates. Of these, the Municipal Polyvalent High School is the only municipal public. The other one from Florida that participated was Bernadette College (subsidized). The rest were private schools. Among them, the American British School and the Pedro de Valdivia School in Peñalolén, among others.
Finally, the school debates in Science and Technology comprised four chronological hours of training and six days of competition (including the final). The Florida Municipal Polyvalent High School belongs to the Corporation’s Education Department, which is directed by the general secretary, Janett Fernández.
