IntroductionTraditionally, teenagers have been encouraged to focus on their studies during their adolescent years. These days, people are noticing that there are many benefits to gaining work experience as well. Work experience teaches teenagers time management, communication, and leadership skills. Teenagers also learn how to be mature and responsible. However, many still believe that adolescents should save working for their adult years. Let's see what Henry and Ashley have to say.
Henry (Constructive)Teenagers should have work experiences. Although school should be their primary focus, it is also beneficial to gain part-time work experience. First, there are many studious students who apply for the same top colleges and job positions. However, work experience shows that a student can do more than just study. Work experience shows maturity and responsibility. Working teenagers can also develop other important skills, such as communication and leadership skills. These days, gaining part-time work experience has many advantages.
Ashley (Constructive) Teenagers should not have work experiences. Teenagers will have to work when they are older. Adolescent years should be spent studying and spending time with friends and family. There is no reason to add more stress to their lives. They already have to worry about getting good grades and scoring high on their exams. Teenagers will be exhausted if they have to work and study at the same time. Furthermore, teenagers are still too young to handle the commitments of a job.
Henry (Rebuttal)Teenagers should learn early how to handle the commitments of a job. The best way to do this is to gain part-time work experience. Working teenagers will gain skills and real life experience. This will not only make them better workers, but also more mature and responsible adults. Finally, there are many students with high grades and exam scores. Part-time work experience may help students stand out when they apply for jobs and colleges in the future.
Ashley (Rebuttal) Most companies and government organizations will not hire teenagers. Adolescents can mostly work in non-professional jobs. Many of the jobs available to teenagers will not help them in the future. Colleges and employers mostly look for good grades and exam scores. They will not pay attention to work experience at restaurants or caf?s. That is why students have always been encouraged to focus solely on their studies. It has been this way for decades and there is no reason to change it now.
Judge’s CommentsThe winner of today’s debate is Henry. Ashley committed the logical fallacy called the argument to tradition. Debaters commit this fallacy when they claim that something is right because it has always been that way. Ashley said that students should focus on their studies because “it has been this way for decades and there is no reason to change it now.” Just because something has been a certain way for a long time does not make it right.