Middle School Debate Topics

Debates are a wonderful, high-interest way to teach a number of skills to students. They provide students with the ability to research a topic, work as a team, practice public speaking, and use critical thinking skills. Despite—or perhaps because of—the challenges that go along with teaching tweens, holding debates in middle school classes can be especially rewarding.

Debate Topics for Grades 6 Through 9

The following is a list of topics that would be appropriate for use in middle school classrooms. As you read through these you will see that some are more appropriate for specific curriculum areas, while others can be used in classes across the board. Each item is listed as a proposition. Assign one team this proposition and allow an opposing team to argue the opposite. For more advanced students, you may want to use a list typically for high school students.

1. All students should have daily chores.
2. Every home should have a pet.
3. Every student should play a musical instrument.
4. Homework should be banned.
5. School uniforms should be required.
6. Year-round education is better for students.
7. Children should not be allowed to drink soda.
8. PE should be required of all students throughout middle and high school.
9. All students should be required to volunteer in the community.
10. Corporal punishment should be allowed in schools.
11. The internet should be banned from schools.
12. Junk food should be banned from schools.
13. All parents should be required to attend parenting classes before having a child.
14. All students should be required to learn a foreign language in middle school.
15. All museums should be free to the public.
16. Single-sex schools are better for education.
17. Students should be held legally responsible for bullying in schools.
18. Children under 14 should not be allowed on social media sites.
19. Prayer of any form should be prohibited in schools.
20. Statewide tests should be abolished.
21. All people should be vegetarians.
22. Solar energy should replace all traditional forms of energy.
23. Zoos should be abolished.
24. It is sometimes right for the government to restrict freedom of speech.
25. Human cloning should be banned.
26. Science fiction is the best form of fiction (or any form of fiction of your choosing).
27. Macs are better than PCs.
28. Androids are better than iPhones.
29. The moon should be colonized.
30. Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) should be banned.
31. All students should be required to take a cooking class.
32. All students should be required to take a shop or practical arts class.
33. All students should be required to take a performing arts class.
34. All students should be required to learn sewing.
35. Democracy is the best form of government.
36. America should have a king and not a president.
37. All citizens should be required to vote.
38. The death penalty is an appropriate penalty for certain crimes.
39. Sports stars are paid too much money.
40. The right to bear arms is a necessary constitutional amendment.
41. Students should never be forced to repeat a year at school.
42. Grades should be abolished.
43. All individuals should pay the same tax rate.
44. Teachers should be replaced by computers.
45. Students should be allowed to skip grades in school.
46. The voting age should be lowered.
47. Individuals who illegally share music online should be put in jail.
48. Video games are too violent.
49. Students should be required to learn about poetry.
50. History is an important subject in school.
51. Students should not be required to show their work in math.
52. Students should not be graded on their handwriting.
53. America should give more money to other countries.
54. Every home should have a robot.
55. The government should provide wireless service for everyone.
56. School pictures should be abolished.
57. Smoking should be banned.
58. Recycling should be required.
59. Children should not watch television on school nights.
60. Performance-enhancing drugs should be allowed in sports.
61. Parents should be allowed to choose their baby's gender.
62. Education is the key to future success.