Podcast | Intermediate Resource

Topic
That all junior high school students should do compulsory community service

Breakdown
Actor – Junior High School
Mechanism - Compulsory
Subject – Community Service

Reasonable basis statement
Both teams want kids to be able to learn good habits and give back to the community, as well as recognising the need for community service – It’s a question of who, how and when.

What to prove
Affirmative
— Why there is a need for kids to get into community service (context principle)
— Why compulsory community service would work for kids (include different types of kids)
— How compulsory community service is different to voluntary community service – why now, rather than later
Negative
— Why the compulsory nature of community service might be bad for kids
— Why community service might be bad for kids NOW (time/work ethic)
— How this might change attitudes/the nature of community service in the future

Common mistakes
— Suggesting that no community service would occur under either side
— Getting too in depth about the types of mistakes kids would make – slippery slope
— Arguing too many practicalities
— Arguing from a limited scope – private schools

Conclusion
It’s a great topic for years 7 to 10 for exploring compulsory policies and education/social issues

Compulsory Community Service