It’s not all black and white for Gray student

A word of warning — never start an argument with Josh Finebit. Odds are you’ll probably lose.

Sure, the Gray Academy senior seems like a nice kid. He’s articulate, polite and has good posture.

But get him on the opposing side of an argument, and you’ll find yourself head-to-head with one of the world’s top word warriors.

This week, Finebit, 17, is traveling to England to represent Canada in the World Individual Public Speaking and Debate Championship — again. He also competed for the national team at the 2008 event in Germany.

This time, Finebit will face off against 60 students from a list of countries that will include Pakistan, Cyprus and France in the categories of debate, impromptu speaking, persuasive speaking and dramatic reading.

The debate topics are only announced 30 minutes before each match, but students get to choose their own persuasive speech theme.

For that event, Finebit will orate on how plastic trash pollutes the oceans — a fitting topic for an aspiring environmental policymaker.

Though judges don’t expect students to have in-depth knowledge of the debate topics, general awareness of the world is crucial. Last year, teams argued about military alliances.

“You have to be able to look at an issue from every side,” says Finebit, who reads The Economist every week. “You can’t be so set in your own beliefs that you can’t see the other side.”

At the 2008 competition, Finebit was a finalist in every category except dramatic reading. This year, he’s brushed up his literary performance efforts, selecting a passage from Lousie Ardrich’s The Red Convertible.

Still, Finebit’s expectations are modest. Last year, he placed 13th overall. This year, “it would be good to do better than that,” the Crescentwood resident says, noting he’s shooting for a Top 10 finish.

The mere fact that Finebit is headed to the world championships for the second time is accomplishment enough for Gray debate teacher Linda Martin.

Debate is a mandatory course for the academy’s Grade 7 and 8 students, with optional courses continuing to graduation.

“Students use these skills every day of their lives,” Martin says.

“The most important skills in debate are listening skills. You have to hear what other people are saying to be able to refute it. The world would be a much better place if everyone had those skills.”

The school began competing in debate in 2004, and has sent a student to the world championships four years running.

Martin hopes Gray’s success will encourage other schools.

“A lot of public schools don’t do debating, sometimes because they’re nervous about the schools that are very accomplished in debate,” she said.

“But we’ve made these giant leaps. You need to get in and just do it. It will grow.”

Though Finebit jokes that debating has been “great for family arguments” against his lawyer parents, that isn’t the best part about being a debate champ.

So what is? “I enjoy traveling for free,” he said, grinning.