20 Controversial Debate Topics for Middle School

We can definitely vouch for one thing: while reading our 20 controversial debate topics for middle school, you’re bound to be completely baffled and wonder who on earth came up with such topics for 11, 12 and 13-year olds!

In their essence, debates are great. Teachers who encourage debates prepare children for various challenges they are going to have later in life, since a lot of our adulthood is spent on different negotiations at home or at work. What is more, debate teaches us tolerance and acceptance. If you are assigned to defend an attitude which is in direct opposition to your real feelings, you may develop an understanding for the party you are defending.  What is a good debate topic? We would say it’s any topic that will get you thinking, and these are excellent, but very controversial.

Indeed, the following topics are going to raise even more eyebrows than our previous article on 17 controversial debate topics for teenagers. So, what are the most controversial topics for middle schoolers? Our main criterion was appropriateness, i.e. whether such topics are expected to be discussed by children between the age of 11-13. As well as that, some of these middle school debate topics require a thorough knowledge of politics, for example, or certain laws. Hardly is an average teenager able to discuss all the problems and challenges in the American voting system, or the matters of foreign policy. In addition, we deem topics about torture and killing other human beings extremely controversial for the children of this age. Obviously, here you won’t find typical debate topics for primary students such as Should cell phones be allowed in school.

As for the sources, we read through Edu Zenith, TutorVista, ThoughtCo. and The Middle Schoolers’ Debatabase suggestions and found a fair share of current controversial debate topics. The last source is an edition which also contains detailed information on how to conduct a debate in class, as well as provided arguments for and against a topic, and it could be said some of them are really good debate topics for college students with answers, too, since we believe some of them are too serious for middle schoolers.

Without further ado, here are 20 controversial debate topics for middle school!

20. Arguments against gay marriage.

Do you really think a young teenager is able to express these attitudes in the right way?

19. Sex education will bring down teen pregnancy cases.

Admittedly, not all parents are thrilled about their 11-year-old discussing safe sex issues.

18. Should the death penalty be banned in America?

Similarly to the previous one, deciding on the matters of life and death and whether the dying person feels pain during execution is too harsh for some to handle.

17. China is the new threat to America’s supremacy.

Perhaps some children are aware of China’s economic boost, but this requires extensive research.

16. Should America withdraw its troops from Afghanistan?

Foreign politics, as well as the national politics, is something youngsters are not experienced enough to discuss.

15. The United States should allow mercy killing in all states.

Once again, whether to kill or not to kill another human being can be a stressful topic, especially if someone has a terminally ill person in the family.

14. Plan for the future vs Live for the moment

The whole mindfulness movement is perhaps too abstract for kids to deliver.

13. All individuals should pay the same tax rate.

Usually, the only thing children know about taxes is that their parents are quite anxious about them.

12. The death penalty is an appropriate penalty for certain crimes.

Surely going into details about different types of crimes belongs to 20 controversial debate topics for middle school. simply imagine the vilest crime you could think of, and then a child arguing for or against the penalty in that case. Not very pleasant, isn’t it?

11. It is sometimes right for the government to restrict freedom of speech.

While it seems pretty easy, to properly discuss it needs quite a bit of serious research.

10. Schools should provide free contraceptives.

Basically, this is tweens and teenagers discussing the usage of different contraceptives.

9. Increase the minimum wage.

First of all, children hardly know what the minimum wage is, let alone means of increasing it.

8. Puerto Rico should become the 51st state.

As for Puerto Rico, this requires extensive research about the history of the whole situation.

7. Repeal the Second Amendment.

Quite a violent topic, isn’t it? To shoot or not to shoot, i.e. whether it is safe to own a gun. The examples against would have to name the most recent mass killings.

6. The United States should negotiate with terrorists.

The question arising is Or else? Basically, one team should stand for killing people without much thinking.

5. Torture is permissible for purposes of national security.

Now imagine children discussing various types of torture and cruelty. Do you really wish for kids to use their imagination in this way?

4. Warrantless wiretaps are justified.

Not even adults can agree on this one. Some say it’s a crime, others don’t…Too complicated.

3. Defense spending cut.

Military, wars, victims, weapons…Everything an 11-year-old needs, right?

2. Abolish the Electoral College.

Getting into details about American voting system may be a little too much to handle.

1. Gentrification does more harm than good.

And the last on our list of 20 controversial debate topics for middle school concerns gentrification. Are you familiar with the term? Redecorating the places to become more middle-class like is certainly not what most teenagers have an opinion about.