Debate Topics Relevant to High School Juniors

Hey, I'm part of the debate club at my school and we're brainstorming topics to spar on. Preferably, we're looking for topics that are relevant and meaningful to our age group. Any ideas?

Absolutely, this is a critical part of the debate club. I'll list a few topics that I believe would promote engaging, informative, and stimulating discussions:

1. Should Violent Video Games be Banned? This debate can incorporate points about potential psychological effects, freedom of expression in the gaming industry, and responsibility in content consumption.

2. Dress Code Policies: Are they oppressive or necessary? Students' clothing choice can be seen as a form of self-expression, but some argue that certain policies maintain a professional school environment and reduce distractions.

3. Online vs. Traditional Schooling: The pivot to remote learning due to the COVID-19 pandemic opens a conversation about whether online learning can be as advantageous, or even more so, than traditional in-person instruction.

4. Does Social Media Promote Unrealistic Expectations? Social networking sites are heavily entrenched in the lives of most high school juniors. Debaters can discuss mental health effects, benefits and drawbacks for communication, as well as implications on self-image.

5. Should Community Service be a Graduation Requirement? There are schools that require their students to do a designated number of hours of service to graduate. This can inspire a discussion on forced volunteerism versus personal drive to serve the community.

6. The Impact of Test-Optional Policies on College Admissions: More colleges and universities have become test-optional, especially in light of the pandemic. This topic would be timely as you might be considering college applications.

Each of these are ripe for examination from various sides and will certainly stimulate thought-provoking debates!