• CON

    If these people don't wish to pay twice, because of a...

    School Vouchers are the shizz!!!

    Summary: School vouchers are generally touted as a method by which the poor can opt to send their children to private schools, without paying taxes for public education. Usually persons in favor of this tend to be Catholic, and wish to educate their children as such. What many people disregard is that most legislation that suggests vouchers strongly favors a break for the very rich from paying into public education, and will not support the middle class and poor in their desires to send children to private schools. Nonetheless, none should be exempt from paying into public education. If these people don't wish to pay twice, because of a failing education system, then they have the obligation and responsibility to fix it. Other avenues are also available to the middle class and poor to gain entry into private schools, such as scholarships. In lieu of the fact that vouchers support the rich and seek to destroy public education, then it should be obvious that vouchers are more of a threat than a call to competition for the betterment of education. Refutation of each point: - If these people don't wish to pay twice, because of a failing education system, then they have the obligation and responsibility to fix it. Other avenues are also available to the middle class and poor to gain entry into private schools, such as scholarships. In lieu of the fact that vouchers support the rich and seek to destroy public education, then it should be obvious that vouchers are more of a threat than a call to competition for the betterment of education. Refutation of each point: - School vouchers favor the rich. In fact, most voucher programs favor exorbitantly rich persons, and try to exempt rich persons from paying taxes that support public education. Vouchers for the poor are hardly a factual matter. Most people in favor of vouchers are also in favor or private indoctrination through religion, instead of traditional earning. What is worse No Child Left Behind, or giving precedence to god over learning? - Competition between schools should not come at the expense of public education. Vouchers mean less money is being funneled into public education, thus making it difficult for public schools to compete with ALREADY limited state and federal funds coming their way. We are talking about the future here. Why would we want to compete with something so precious? Get it right or don't do it at all. It isn't worth having losers in a game that involves the future, and will ultimately be detrimental when we realize who the losers were. Everyone has the right to a good education, and playing games to see who can provide the best education is callous morally wrong. All people deserve a good education regardless of which school they can afford. - Private schools get results, because rich kids get precedence over the poor. Vouchers only further the problem. More money should go to public education, instead of letting the rich write themselves off. We have terrible underfunded education systems, because there is not sufficient funding to support the system. Not because they are any less effective that private schools. If you were to input all private schools funds into the same apparatus, then it would succeed in the same manner. The rich care about their children, not other children, and this should not be tolerated. Vouchers are hardly altruistic in their nature, and promote elitism of the highest caliber. As if to say that private education is inherently superior for no good reason, while public education rots when the rich continue to deny further funding to public education. - If you pay twice, then that is your business. If you don't like public education, then change it by protesting for better funding. Just because you decide to spend your money elsewhere for double the education does not mean that public education should suffer the consequences. - Private schools do not increase diversity. Many private schools are religiously based, and consequently rich white kids all going to the rich white school are not really all that diverse. Remember that most people eligible for vouchers will be the rich, at least according to most voucher legislation in effect. - If parents want vouchers on religious grounds, then they need to realize that a secular education is timeless. Secularism in education is an on going tradition. For good reason, 1 + 1 = 2 does not involves god, nor do many other basic education subjects. If parents disagree with some views, then schools can welcome different opinions while remaining neutral. Parents can educate their children according to their beliefs and standards. A secular education teaches nothing but the facts, and should therefore be no worse off than a religious education. I would even say that more could be learned without god interrupting in the learning experience of children. - No Child Left Behind is failing. It is failing because federally mandated tests fail children of varying backgrounds. Why? Mostly because we do not invest enough in state education. Eliminate NCLB, and learn to accept that no population is the same, thus the needs of different students should be met by instating different programs for them. Funding funding funding! It is without a doubt the biggest problem inherent in the system. Vouchers want to take away our dearly needed funds for measures that will surely be detrimental to our educational systems over time.

  • PRO

    It is in blatant violation of the U.S. constitution. ......

    Public Schools Should not Fund School Bands.

    Extracurricular activities are hobbies. An activity or interest pursued outside one's regular occupation and engaged in primarily for pleasure. [1] Some schools have debate clubs, robotics clubs, political clubs, track, basketball, etc. These are all hobbies. All of the other extracurricular activities/hobbies should also have their funding cut on the same basis in order to provide for the improvement of solid academic courses. The Federal Government also funds nearly 10% of the budget of public schooling.[2] The schools use that money to fund extracurricular activities such as band. Artcile 1 Section 8 of the U.S. constitution states what the Federal Government has the right to fund. [3] As long as the U.S. government funds public schools in such a large amount the public school certainly doesn't have the right to fund school bands. It is in blatant violation of the U.S. constitution. If the Federal government cut the funding it gave to schools, which amounts to nearly 10%, I can gurantee you that band will be one of the first to go. Band has no buisness being funded. My opponent states that schools don't even put forth all the funding for a band. My response is that then there shouldn't be a large negative consequence to the school bands. If bands end up being entirely self-sufficient then good for them. But so far they need federal funding which the U.S. constitution does not allow for. If music helps students brain develop there is nothing stopping them from playing or listening to music. They can listen to music in their free time. There are many ridiculous scholarships out there. There are scholarships for just about every talent, ability, etc ever concieved, and organizations are willing to provide tens of thousands of dollars for them.[4] Promoting Veganism = $10,000 Making a prom dress out of duct tape = $6,000 Using a skateboard = $5,000 I don't think the federal government should be using tax dollars to fund skateboard lessons simply because there are scholarships out there for it. The pay for a musician is good, but it is very hard to become one more than it is to become an engineer if you take the proper courses. That is why most of the top schools in the country support engineering which require mathematics and science. [5] These schools include; Massachusets Institute of Technology Stanford Universtiy University of California-Berkeley Harvard University Princeton University And while there are good schools that offer music, they usually specialize in other career paths. Rochester for instance is ranked as having the best music school, however, Rochester is known for its psychology, engineering, economic, and biology programs. [6] In conclusion 1. As long as the federal goverment gives a substantial amount of funding to public schools, public schools have no constitutional right to fund school bands. 2. There are many valuable scholarships offered for a variety of useless talents, it doesn't mean the federal government should fund classes for those "talents" as well 3. It is much more promising to go forth with a career in science or mathematics, and with those classes being cut, band should be cut instead to fund those solid academic courses. Seeing that more schools and scholarships appeal to students who have strong backgrounds in mathematics and science, those courses should come first rather than band. [1] http://www.thefreedictionary.com... (Definition of the word "hobby") [2] http://www2.ed.gov... (The Federal Government funds over 8% of public school spending, see fact 4) [3] http://www.usconstitution.net... (Article 1 Section 8 of the United States Constitution) [4] http://www.collegedegree.com... (Various scholarships for various talents) [5] http://grad-schools.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com... (List of top engineering schools) [6] http://en.wikipedia.org... (shows what the top musical school actually specializes in)

  • CON

    A Ministry of Defence spokesman in the UK stated that...

    School children are too young to target for military service

    School children are not targeted for military service; the intention is to raise awareness about the work that the military do. A Ministry of Defence spokesman in the UK stated that they 'visit about 1,000 schools a year only at the invitation of the school – with the aim of raising the general awareness of their armed forces in society, not to recruit’. Furthermore, children interested in a military career are not instantly signed up, they are granted the time until they turn 18 to decide. In addition, before official enlistment, all potential recruits are sent away on a six-week camp to find out what a career in the army will be like1 1 Goff, H. (2008, March 25). Teachers reject 'Army propaganda'. Retrieved May 18, 2011, from BBC News: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/7311917.stm improve this  

  • CON

    To permit any organization to advertise to schoolchildren...

    Young people should hear of the opportunities available in the armed services whilst in school

    The armed services have no right to preach to the youth, particularly when they are in a trusting environment like a school. To permit any organization to advertise to schoolchildren about job prospects is misguided at a time when their critical faculties are nascent and they are endowed with the belief that what is taught at school is to be imbibed with little rebuttal. Mandated school activities like the Lord's Prayer and Pledge of Allegiance do serve to promote nationalism, but do not do so in such a way as to threaten the lives or disrupt the career paths of school children. School children must be protected from organizations that have the potential to put pressure on them and guilt trip them into signing away the rest of their young adult life. If their choices are to be respected, they must be left to develop their critical faculties and then permitted to use information available to the general public to make a decision. improve this  

  • CON

    I strongly believe that World's governments should banned...

    Soft drinks should be sold at school

    School principals think and cared most about student's health rather than schools funds, schools could sell healthier foods for their student to eat and could earn heaps more money than selling soft drinks. I strongly believe that World's governments should banned or restricted soft drinks and alcohol, because it is harmful to yourself and the government. Government shouldn't banned drugs, because drugs only harm yourself, not others; I am sure people could make right choices for themselves not others. By the way, I still confidently thought soft drinks id bad for all of us, because of the nasty ingredients the Coca-Cola company has put into it to harm students and adults. Soft drinks should be banned!!!

  • PRO

    If a principal rapes a student are they concerning for...

    Soft drinks should be sold at school

    "School principals think and cared most about student's health rather than schools funds" let me stop you there. How can you be so sure that they "care" about the student's health more than money? That is a hasty generalization. Let me add, very hasty. http://www.allthingscrimeblog.com... If a principal rapes a student are they concerning for their health and well being? I will admit, not all principals are greedy or horrible. Some do care about the students. But NOT EVERY SINGLE ONE. You also said that "It is harmful to the government" Um? Wait what? Drugs are harmful to people not the government but SODA is? You have less of a chance of dying from soda than drugs. Also most are illegal.

  • CON

    Unfortunately for now my arguments and rebuttals still...

    Should Uniforms be Required in Public Schools

    It's a shame really. One more round and my opponent probably could have completely collapsed my arguments. Unfortunately for now my arguments and rebuttals still stand. Vote me.

  • CON

    I accept.

    Puclic Schools Should Require Uniforms

    I accept.

  • CON

    My opponent has conceited her final argument and not...

    Students should not have to wear uniforms.

    My opponent has conceited her final argument and not defended my attacks on her contentions, therefore I urge a Con vote.

  • CON

    My opponent has forfeited the round, so please extend all...

    All schools shouldn't have uniforms

    My opponent has forfeited the round, so please extend all arguments.