Code of Conduct

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As a member of the St Leonard’s College Debating and Public Speaking program, you will be representing the school before a range of local, state, national and international audiences. This carries with it a responsibility to act in accordance with College expectations and values, and uphold them to the highest degree.

In accordance with your role as a formal representative of the College, you must agree to and abide by the following Codes of Conduct. These Codes of Conduct exist in order to maintain the integrity of the competitions, ensure that safety and enjoyment of all participants and ensure that everyone receives the most positive experience possible.

Note that failing to comply with these Codes of Conduct may adversely effect your ability to continue participating in the Debating and Public Speaking program, the awarding of Debating Colours and may have wider consequences depending on the nature of the transgression.

The St Leonard’s College Code of Conduct for Debating and Public Speaking is as follows:

Students will —

  • arrive on time to all events;
  • honour the commitments they have made to their team, competitions and the College;
  • follow the directions of St Leonard’s College staff;
  • wear their full school uniform appropriately (including blazers);
  • will treat others’ belongings and any host venue with respect;
  • embody respect and good-sportsmanship through their actions and attitudes;
  • abide by the rules and requirements of the competition they are competing in;
  • read and respond to all communications from staff and teammates in a punctual manner as required ; and
  • conduct themselves in a mature, responsible, courteous and respectful manner in accordance with both their role as representatives of the College and their obligations to their teammates.

In particular participants in competitions run by the Debaters Association of Victoria are required to abide by the following DAV Code of Conduct (also available on their website). It is expected that students will uphold these standards, especially those directed towards debaters and participants, in all intra-school and inter-school competitions:

Debaters will —

  • treat the occasion, each other, and the adjudicators with respect;
  • respect the rules of the competition, particularly relating to secret subject and advised subject preparation;  and
  • accept the adjudicator’s decision.

Debaters will not —

  • disrupt or distract from another debater’s speech or the adjudicator’s comments;
  • use offensive language or behaviour;
  • make denigrating comments on the basis of age, culture, gender, sexuality, disability, religion, family;  or
  • harass their opponents or the adjudicator.

Adjudicators will —

  • treat the outing in a formal and professional manner;
  • limit their adjudications to 10 minutes, and make constructive comments to assist the debaters;  and
  • be sensitive when commenting upon physical or physiological disabilities;

Adjudicators will not —

  • allow bias or personal knowledge to influence their  decisions.

Teachers and the audience will —

  • hear the speakers in reasonable silence;  and
  • encourage and foster a spirit of fair play and good sport.

Teachers and the audience will not —

  • harass debaters and adjudicators before, during or after the debate.

Coaches will —

  • Conduct themselves in a professional manner at all times;
  • Notify Regional Coordinators and the Schools Administrator of any possible conflict between their role as coach and their involvement in any DAV activity.

Coaches will not —

  • Communicate with any DAV representative with the purpose of intimidating them or challenging them in the fulfilment of their role.

Participants will not —

  • record any debate, in part or in whole, without ensuring that both participating schools have given prior, written consent for their teams’ debates to be recorded, and without acquiring, prior to the commencement of the debate, the written consent of both participating teams, the adjudicator, and the Host School Coordinator.
  • use mobile phones to make or receive calls or send text messages during a debate.

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