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Should Debate Techniques Be Mandatory Learning in High School?

Should Debate Techniques Be Mandatory Learning in High School?

  • Yes

    Votes: 10 27.0%

  • No

    Votes: 27 73.0%
  • Total voters
    37
Should Debate Techniques Be Mandatory Learning in High School?
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mandatory? i don't know. maybe. civics / government and history should definitely be emphasized more, though.

i took a debate class on the academic track in high school. one of the most eye opening experiences was having to argue the opposing viewpoint. in my case, it was arguing for age limits to purchase gangster rap. i was a big fan of the genre, and pretty much everyone knew it. i did win the debate, though. i sometimes wonder if it would be fun to argue from the opposing view again. in my transitional phase between libertarian and independent, i used to run my own message board, and i socked as an absolutist laissez faire poster even though i didn't support the concept. i found that position difficult to defend, but it was definitely interesting.
 
SoulFire77 said:
Given that so many people lack the necessary skills to debate any topic (many of them being members of websites like this one), should "Debate Class" be mandatory in school?
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Legit debate techniques should be mandatory HERE at DP. Stop the childish name calling and laughing emojis, when no rebuttal is even attempted.

Seriously, if I had a nickel for ebery time one person said to another some variation of, "Your inability to comprehend..."
 
Public speaking skills should be more heavily emphasized, but I don't think debate should be mandatory.
 
No. I believe that teaching critical thinking and courtesy (also s/b taught in the home) should do it.
 
radcen said:
Legit debate techniques should be mandatory HERE at DP. Stop the childish name calling and laughing emojis, when no rebuttal is even attempted.

Seriously, if I had a nickel for ebery time one person said to another some variation of, "Your inability to comprehend..."
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I call such phrases "debating rhetoric" because that's all they are and they appear in almost every thread by the same posters...we should start a thread and make a list...:lol:
 
Koke said:
In my experience there usually is some sort of debate centered class in highschool.

That being said, if there wasn't, I would want to refrain from giving any more responsibility to the current state of academia and the academics that disproportionately pour garbage into the brains of young people. A lot would have to change in the public school system and with academics for me to reliably trust them with anything let alone political discourse.
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Such as math, and science, and history, and other such "garbage"?
 
Chomsky said:
Civics isn't mandated in your state?
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It might be...my kids were graduates by the time we moved BACK to SoCal in 2012 but it was DEFINITELY NOT mandated in Dallas-Fort Worth far as I know. In fact, not only were civics classes nonexistent, HISTORY was nonexistent.
My son got four years worth of TEXAS HISTORY and almost NO U.S. History and ZERO World History.
That was Mansfield public schools.

We basically had to "home school" tutor both our kids in history, current events, civics, and even though they are longtime grads, the process continues, and they've taken initiative. Both have Zinn's big book, for example but there's more.
I'm relieved that they ask tons of questions, because at the very least, if you know you lack perspective, you're on the way toward gaining some.
I also tell them never to take my word for something without checking deeper on their own on all issues.
 
If by "debate" you mean learning how to rationally and logically examine arguments, they absolutely it should. It should be mandatory in grade school. Far too many people have no idea how to intellectually evaluate claims. That's why DP is a cluster**** so often.
 
SoulFire77 said:
Given that so many people lack the necessary skills to debate any topic (many of them being members of websites like this one), should "Debate Class" be mandatory in school?
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For those that want it, fine. But I don't think more kids need help learning how to argue. There is something about arguing "properly" but I can't see most kids doing that. They are too right, too sure, too dogmatic, and too immature to make a rational case.
 
Evilroddy said:
Debate and public speaking are skill sets which should very much be taught in high schools, colleges and universities. However they might be better addressed as required skills in mandatory English, Civics and Social Sciences just as Arithmetic, Geometry and Symbolic Logic were once part of the Maths curriculum. Do debate and public speaking need a discrete and separate course all of their own? I would say that would be a bad idea due to time limitations in build school course load schedules but the skill MUST be taught as required skills in both public and private school, colleges and universities in mandatory core courses.

Cheers.
Evilroddy.
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Composition and rhetoric used to be taught too. I'd much rather the focus in English classes be on reading, writing, and reasoning than on poetry and fiction.

"Argument" doesn't mean "My dad can whip your dad!" "Can NOT!" "Can too!" It's not a quarrel; it's process of reasoning, of attempting to demonstrate truth or falsehood, and there need not be any discord at all. Rhetoric is the art of finding the proper means of persuasion; its product is an argument.
 
SoulFire77 said:
You make an interesting point. However, the simple process of having political discourse in the classroom would, at the very least, expose children to points of view not shared by their parents or teachers.
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That's not what teachers are paid to do. I tutor in a public high school and what I see are students who lack the verbal and mathematical reasoning skills to solve any real problems.

And who would be foolish enough to let ed school dullards discus political issues with children who are completely clueless as to our history, our economics, and our law when they are so completely unaware of it themselves.
 
No, it shouldn't be.

And even if everyone was an excellent debater, we will always have people on both sides accusing the other of not being able to debate properly.
 
Elvira said:
I call such phrases "debating rhetoric" because that's all they are and they appear in almost every thread by the same posters...we should start a thread and make a list...:lol:
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Agreed.

I'm new, and yet I have encountered the same "lack of skill" from multiple people. As if using "LMAO" and emojis were some sort of substitute for a rebuttal. It's always the same crap, too... They start to lose on substance, so they start picking an argument over the debate itself (parsing words, and such).

It's the bad thing about debating in a forum online... At least in-person debates have a moderator capable of either forcing an answer or declaring the debate to be over. Those unskilled debaters should ask themselves: "What would this sound like if I said it on stage - in a room full of people?" If the answer is "pretty dumb," then don't type it.

After all, just because you can't hear the crowd groaning... doesn't mean that they are not...
 
I have to admit: I'm a little shocked at the way the poll is going... I think it must be a reflection of how "battle weary" a lot of people are here. Perhaps I should not have used the word "mandatory"? That seems to be turning people off...

I do believe every child needs to learn the skills involved with learning to debate, even if it is taught by parents at home. Too many people are growing up with half-formed opinions that they "parrot" without knowing WHY they think as they do. However, I understand the notion that people don't trust the public school system's ability to do this... I have an adult son, and a daughter currently in school - and, I can tell you, after twenty plus years of dealing with the system... I can count on one hand (with fingers left over) the amount of so-called "educators" that I judge to be capable professionals.
 
SoulFire77 said:
Given that so many people lack the necessary skills to debate any topic (many of them being members of websites like this one), should "Debate Class" be mandatory in school?
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The skills, techniques, rules, ect. that are fundamental to academic disputation certainly should be taught, however this will never (genuinely) happen as the Public k-12 School system is an indoctrination Day-Care service for parents & society rather than anything remotely approaching academic/intellectual activity/rigor found in our University/Higher-education system--and the University system has many problems in-it-of-itself.
 
chuckiechan said:
For those that want it, fine. But I don't think more kids need help learning how to argue. There is something about arguing "properly" but I can't see most kids doing that. They are too right, too sure, too dogmatic, and too immature to make a rational case.
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Kinda like here...:2razz:
 
SoulFire77 said:
Agreed.

I'm new, and yet I have encountered the same "lack of skill" from multiple people. As if using "LMAO" and emojis were some sort of substitute for a rebuttal. It's always the same crap, too... They start to lose on substance, so they start picking an argument over the debate itself (parsing words, and such).

It's the bad thing about debating in a forum online... At least in-person debates have a moderator capable of either forcing an answer or declaring the debate to be over. Those unskilled debaters should ask themselves: "What would this sound like if I said it on stage - in a room full of people?" If the answer is "pretty dumb," then don't type it.

After all, just because you can't hear the crowd groaning... doesn't mean that they are not...
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I don't know about you but I do a lot of groaning...and walking away because it just ain't worth it...
 
Chomsky said:
I've gotta' ask:

Have you ever taken a Constitution class, or class in Constitutional law?

I took a Constitutional law class at the undergrad level, as an elective by the law school faculty, and I tout that as easily "the best class I ever took". No other class ever rocked me, or challenged me, like that one. I seriously considered going into law after that.
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I'm taking ConLaw this term. Have taken Poly Sci already, and Civil Liberties last Spring. Absolutely loved the Civil Liberties class. Am looking forward to the ConLaw class. I have nothing left but electives, so I am taking things I want to take. Things that interest me.
 
Chomsky said:
Civics isn't mandated in your state?
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I had two daughters recently graduate - one in 2016 and one in 2017. Neither were even offered a civics class. I have to teach them everything they need to know about government and politics.
 
Elvira said:
I don't know about you but I do a lot of groaning...and walking away because it just ain't worth it...
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Same. I am constantly surprised at the people who believe that, just because I walk away from an argument, I give in to them. They "win." "Winning" seems to be very important to a great deal of posters here.

Me? If I get tired of arguing the same things over and over, I just walk away. Not worth the stress, and no minds will be changed anyway.
 
Personally I feel that a debate class should be mandatory if for no other reason, than has already been mentioned - debating teaches people how to do research. The ability to do research is invaluable, and something that I'd love to see people do here. Shame, though, that they can't. They'd rather post smilies, and play, "I'm rubber, you're glue..." or just say, "You're wrong!" or "Fake news!"

No research whatsoever. None. Or if they do research, they research using invalid sources, and then present it as gospel.
 
spud_meister said:
Yes, along with political philosophy. Too many youth jump on whatever the latest progressive cause is without understanding why they should be supporting it.
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You overlook the many youth who jump on the latest alt-right train without understanding their destination. Stupid decisions on the part of young people are not exclusive to either side.
 
SoulFire77 said:
I have to admit: I'm a little shocked at the way the poll is going... I think it must be a reflection of how "battle weary" a lot of people are here. Perhaps I should not have used the word "mandatory"? That seems to be turning people off...

I do believe every child needs to learn the skills involved with learning to debate, even if it is taught by parents at home. Too many people are growing up with half-formed opinions that they "parrot" without knowing WHY they think as they do. However, I understand the notion that people don't trust the public school system's ability to do this... I have an adult son, and a daughter currently in school - and, I can tell you, after twenty plus years of dealing with the system... I can count on one hand (with fingers left over) the amount of so-called "educators" that I judge to be capable professionals.
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I think I might not be "battle weary" or wary of "mandatory". It was the intent of our local schools to foster critical thinking, and I was in full support of that. Critical thinking enables one to form arguments and to examine many sides of an issue. So I don't feel formal debate training should be required, but do feel that classrooms should be open to student participation, discourse and debate.

I hope schools offer debate training to those who would like to further their skills...but on its own, debate skill is not a super skill...just take a look at Ted Cruz, who spent years perfecting debate skills. It is an area in which he excels formally. But it does little to develop other very important aspects of character and leadership.

As far as counting how many educators are capable...during my experience with children in the public schools, there were more than one hand of great teachers who inspired, two or more hands of adequate teachers who did their job, and a few who should have been considering retirement. Many that is due to the high taxes we pay here...maybe my upbeat evaluation.
 
Superfly said:
Same. I am constantly surprised at the people who believe that, just because I walk away from an argument, I give in to them. They "win." "Winning" seems to be very important to a great deal of posters here.

Me? If I get tired of arguing the same things over and over, I just walk away. Not worth the stress, and no minds will be changed anyway.
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Exactly...what kills me is these people actually think they are good debaters...:mrgreen:
 
Elvira said:
Exactly...what kills me is these people actually think they are good debaters...:mrgreen:
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Right. :lol:

The ones that I "love" the most are the ones who come in with an absolute bull**** argument, and then when you tell them to back it up with a valid source, they say, "That's not my job! It's yours!" Um... no. If you post something and are called on it for veracity, it's your job to prove your claim. That is like basic debating 101.
 
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