Should the Voting Age Be Lowered to 16?
In “In Newark, 16-Year-Olds Win the Right to Vote in School Board Races,” published on Jan. 10, Tracey Tully writes:Residents as young as 16 have been granted the right to vote in school board elections in Newark, New Jersey’s largest city, beginning in April, after the City Council unanimously approved an ordinance Wednesday lowering the…
Should Parents Ever Be Held Responsible for the Harmful Actions of Their Children?
In “Mother of Michigan Gunman Found Guilty of Manslaughter,” Jacey Fortin writes about the case:Michigan jurors, after 11 hours of deliberations, found Jennifer Crumbley guilty of involuntary manslaughter on Tuesday for the gun rampage committed by her teenage son, who carried out the state’s deadliest school shooting more than two years ago.The trial became a…
What Should Be Done to Protect Children Online?
How concerned are you about the dangers of social media and the internet? In your opinion, are technology companies doing enough to protect children online? If not, should Congress step in and pass legislation to address the problem?Last week, in a contentious congressional hearing, U.S. senators grilled executives from Meta, X, TikTok, Discord and Snap,…
How Should Schools Respond to Racist Jokes?
Have you ever heard racist jokes or comments at your school? Do you think that hateful speech — in class or online — is a big problem for your school community?How do your teachers and school administrators deal with these incidents? Do you think their responses are effective?In “How Do You Respond to a Young…
Should Colleges Consider Standardized Tests in Admissions?
Many colleges have stopped requiring standardized tests like the SAT and ACT for admissions. Are you planning on going to college? If so, are you planning to take the SAT and ACT? Or do the schools you want to attend no longer require them?What is your opinion on standardized tests when it comes to college…
Should Governments Do More to Discourage People From Smoking and Vaping?
Is vaping a problem in your school or community? What about cigarettes?What rules or laws are you aware of that are meant to reduce the use of tobacco products where you live? For example, are there age minimums for purchasing such products, or punishment for students if they are caught vaping or smoking on school…
Should Parents Tell Children the Truth About Santa?
Did you ever believe in Santa Claus?(Spoiler: He’s a fictional character!)How did you find out he wasn’t real? What was your reaction when you made this discovery? Did you feel disappointed? Angry? Lied to? Or perhaps proud, as if you’d solved a complicated puzzle?Is Santa a fun and fanciful holiday tradition? Or do parents risk…
Should Students Have the Same Teachers Year After Year?
Have you ever wished that you could have the same teacher over again? Or do you look forward to getting a different teacher each year?What if you found out that research shows that having the same teacher year after year might actually be good for you?In North Carolina, economists examined data on several million elementary…
Should Schools Ban Cellphones?
In “This Florida School District Banned Cellphones. Here’s What Happened,” Natasha Singer writes that in the wake of Orlando’s new policy, which bars students from using cellphones during the entire school day, student engagement increased, but so did the hunt for contraband phones:One afternoon last month, hundreds of students at Timber Creek High School in…
Should School Be a Place to Celebrate Halloween?
Halloween is almost here. Will Oct. 31 be a regular day at your school or are there plans for celebrations? Will students and teachers dress up in costume? Will any of your classes have Halloween-themed lesson plans or “Monster Mash” playing while you work? What about the cafeteria menu — will there be items like…
