IntroductionThe typical classroom model has one teacher leading a class. Co-teaching is another classroom model that involves two teachers teaching a group of students. It may seem beneficial to have two teachers in the classroom. However, co-teaching is more complicated than you may think. There are benefits and disadvantages to each classroom model. Today our debaters will discuss which classroom model is better. Will it be a single-teacher or a co-teaching approach? Let’s find out what Henry and Ashley think about this interesting topic.
Henry (Constructive)Single-teacher teaching is better than co-teaching. For co-teaching to be effective, teachers need to constantly work as a team. This is harder than you imagine. Teachers often have different teaching styles. One teacher may prefer an authoritative teaching approach. The other teacher may be more easygoing. Therefore, teachers may not agree on how they should deal with the class. It is better for students to form a relationship with one teacher. Having two teachers in the same classroom could be confusing for the students.
Ashley (Constructive)Co-teaching is better than single-teacher teaching. Co-teaching allows two teachers to share their knowledge with their students. Everyone knows that two heads are better than one. Also, students will be better supported if there are two teachers in the classroom. One teacher can lead the class, while the other teacher can answer questions or help struggling students. It is difficult for one teacher to help all the students. Students do not receive the attention they need when there is only one teacher.
Henry (Rebuttal)Most classrooms around the world only have one teacher. Single-teacher teaching is the traditional classroom model, which makes it the best model. Students generally have a variety of teachers that teach different subjects. Each teacher is the expert in her or his subject. Therefore, it is not necessary to have two teachers to teach one class. Furthermore, teachers have been able to support their classes alone for years. This shows that there is no need for two teachers.
Ashley (Rebuttal)It may be harder to work with another teacher. However, just because something is harder does not mean that it is the worse option. Also, teachers can have different teaching styles as long as they define their roles in the classroom, communicate, and help each other. For example, the authoritative teacher and easygoing teacher can decide together that the authoritative teacher is in charge of disciplining students and the easygoing teacher is in charge of emotionally supporting students. That is teamwork!
Judge’s CommentsThe winner of today’s debate is Ashley. Henry committed the logical fallacy called argumentum ad antiquitatem, which is an argument for tradition. Debaters commit this fallacy when they claim that something is right because it is traditional. Henry claimed that the single-teacher teaching model is better because it is the traditional classroom model. Remember that just because something is traditional does not make it superior. Tradition is important, but it is not a reason for why something is better.