
Schools Should Teach Manners to Children
Introduction
Manners are different types of considerate behavior, such as saying “please” or not interrupting others when they speak. It is important to have good manners to interact politely with others. Most kids learn manners from family members at home. At school, kids focus on learning academic subjects. But, should schools teach manners to kids as well? Today our debaters will discuss this question.
Constructive Debater 1 Henry
Schools should teach manners to children. Manners are a good way to show consideration for others. I think that learning manners is just as important as learning academic subjects. Kids must have manners to become courteous members of society. Therefore, both parents and teachers should teach manners to kids. Also, some kids may not learn manners at home. That is why kids must learn manners at school.
Constructive Debater 2 Ashley
Schools should not teach manners to children. School time should be dedicated to academic subjects. Parents should be responsible for teaching manners to their kids. Why should we waste class time teaching manners? A teacher’s job is to educate students about science, math, or writing. It is not their job to teach kids how to say “please” and “thank you.” Kids should learn polite behavior at home.
Rebuttal Debater 1 Henry
School is the place where students spend most of their time. It is also where they have the most social interaction with different kinds of people. Therefore, they must learn and practice manners at school. For example, kids are often told to wait in line at school. Therefore, teachers should teach kids how to wait patiently in line for their turn. This is an etiquette lesson that kids should learn and practice at school.
Rebuttal Debater 2 Ashley
We cannot give teachers the responsibility of teaching academic subjects and manners. It is too much! It is the parents’ job to teach manners to their kids. I agree that it is important for kids to learn manners. However, there is a time and place for everything. School time should be dedicated to learning academic subjects. Parents should be in charge of teaching manners to their kids.
Judge’s Comments
The winner of today’s debate is Henry. Ashley committed the fallacy called argument by repetition. Debaters commit this fallacy when they try to prove something by repeating one point. Ashley repeatedly said that teachers should focus on academic subjects, not manners. Debaters should try many different arguments to support their point.
Karen Lee