Debating lessons

SIR – I would like to thank Allison Pearson (Comment, November 4) for her article in support of Arif Ahmed, the Cambridge professor who is taking a stand against woke ideology.

Given it was a debate that activists tried to silence, it seems clear to me that young people these days do not understand what this activity entails – that is, the airing of both sides of an argument in a civilised manner.

One thing my state grammar school taught me in the 1960s, and which has stood me in good stead all my life, was the ability to see both points of view.

The school had two debating societies, junior and senior, and in English lessons we were also taught how to debate. A motion would be proposed and the teacher would pick two girls to speak, ignoring their protestations that they held the opposite view to the one they had been assigned. I can remember several occasions when girls changed their opinions after being forced to see things from the other side.

It was a great exercise and should be reintroduced into all schools. Rosemary J Wells

Weymouth, Dorset