Debate topics for high school students

It’s almost inevitable that today’s high school students will encounter many types of debate topics online. That’s why it’s important for educators to create a safe and supportive space for high school students to develop more informed viewpoints by having classroom debates and discussions, where students can explore multiple perspectives and challenge biases.

And what better place to do it than on Kialo Edu? That’s because Kialo Edu’s Topic Library has many of these debate topics with pro and con points already provided, so you can engage your students in discussions and debates without delay!

Civics debate topics for high school students

Exploring debate topics in civics lessons improves high school students’ social awareness and builds their civic literacy skills. Moreover, participating in debates on civics topics deepens students’ understanding of democratic processes, supporting their future civic engagement.

• Should voting be compulsory?
• Is justice more important than peace?
• Is war ever justifiable?
• Should citizens have to pass a political knowledge test in order to vote?
• Should animals have rights?
• Should countries have strict limits on immigration?
• Should euthanasia be legal?
• Should governments impose population controls?
• Should hate speech be protected under freedom of speech laws?
• Should monarchies be abolished?
• Is democracy a good form of government?
• Should online gambling be legal?
• Should people break unjust laws?
• Is social media a threat or benefit to democracy?
• Should societies prize freedom over security?
• Should citizens try to sue corporations and governments over climate change?
• Should teenagers be able to access birth control without parental consent?
• Should there be a death penalty?
• Should the US have stricter gun control?
• Should we always respect people in authority?
• Should weapons manufacturers face accountability for mass shootings?
• Should we ban music that glorifies violence?
• Should we ever use force to create peace?

Education debate topics for high school students

Debates centered around the topic of education offer students the opportunity to express their views on a subject that directly affects them. This can encourage students to take a more active interest in their schooling and increase their motivation and engagement!

• Should high schools introduce an hour of free time?
• Are private schools better than public schools?
• Should there be single-gender schools?
• Are standardized tests effective?
• Is it fair to punish everyone for a few students’ behavior?
• Should students be allowed to use smartphones in school?
• Should college admissions use race-based affirmative action?
• Should educators carry firearms for protection?
• What’s the most important quality for a teacher to have?
• Should religion be a subject in school?
• Should schools be able to ban books?
• Do schools have an obligation to teach about racial inequality?
• Should schools have gender-neutral bathrooms?
• Should schools have surveillance cameras in classrooms and hallways?
• Should schools make drug testing mandatory for students?
• Should schools provide free meals for all children?
• Should schools use detention as a punishment?
• Should students be required to take sex education classes in school?
• Should students grade their teachers?
• Will students with better grades be more successful in their careers?

Philosophy debate topics for high school students

The study of philosophy unlocks a wide range of debate topics for high school students to explore. As students reason about moral issues and explore ethical dilemmas, they develop critical thinking skills that enable them to make better decisions when faced with personal dilemmas. 

• Are humans innately good or evil?
• Can hurting others ever be justified?
• Is anything ever eternal?
• Is everyone created equal?
• Is happiness more important than success?
• Is it better to be kind than to be truthful?
• Is it ethical to use dead animals in artworks?
• Is it ever okay to break the rules?
• Is it ever okay to cheat on a test?
• Is it ever okay to lie?
• Is it good to make your beliefs a part of your identity?
• Is it immoral for people to own pets?
• Is killing justified under certain conditions?
• Is one human life worth more than another?
• Is pacifism moral?
• Should morals be relative depending on culture?
• Should we always forgive others?
• Should we refrain from eating intelligent animals?

Religious studies debate topics for high school students

Exploring religious studies topics is a vital part of many humanities classes. This deepens students’ understanding of how diverse religions have contributed to the human experience and builds their respect for different religious beliefs and practices.

• Can morality exist without religion?
• Do all religions worship the same higher power?
• Does the Bhagavad Gita promote the caste system?
• If God is all-powerful and all-knowing, is God responsible for evil?
• Is Buddhism a religion?
• Is Christianity compatible with democracy?
• Is Christianity compatible with feminism?
• Is Islam compatible with democracy?
• Is Islam compatible with feminism?
• Is it right for God to punish all humanity for Adam and Eve’s sin?
• Is Judaism compatible with democracy?
• Is Judaism compatible with feminism?
• Is religious faith compatible with science?
• Is the declining interest in religion a problem?
• Should atheism be considered a religion?
• Should Buddhist leadership roles be open to all genders?
• Should Christian leadership roles be open to all genders?
• Should Hindu readership roles be open to all genders?
• Should Islamic leadership roles be open to all genders?
• Should Jewish leadership roles be open to all genders?
• Should religions treat all genders equally?

Science & technology debate topics for high school students

The ever-evolving field of science and technology is a rich source for debate topics. Students can explore the ethics behind scientific advancements and develop their digital citizenship skills by examining responsible technology use.

• Are online privacy protections more important than safety?
• Are we currently experiencing a mass extinction?
• Do the costs of AI outweigh the benefits?
• Do video games cause youth violence?
• Is TikTok bad for society?
• Should animal testing be banned?
• Should cloning humans be legal?
• Should drugs be legalized like alcohol?
• Are drug consumption rooms a good idea?
• Should everyone be vegetarian?
• Should kids be able to have social media?
• Should young people under 16 be allowed to have smartphones?
• Should parents have access to their children’s social media accounts?
• Should scientists create synthetic lifeforms?
• Should there be quotas for women in STEM?
• Should vaccines be mandatory?
• Should we create artificial wombs for humans?
• Should we develop technology that can read minds?
• Should we try to prolong our lives at any cost?
• What is the most important factor in prioritizing organ transplants?

Social-emotional learning debate topics for high school students

Debating social-emotional learning topics can increase students’ self-awareness and foster their empathy toward others, improving their relationship and conflict-resolution skills. Not only are these essential life skills, but they also contribute to creating a safe and supportive classroom environment that’s ideal for further debates.

• Are celebrities positive role models?
• Are friends better than family?
• Does everyone deserve to be loved?
• Does having more friends improve mental health?
• Does money bring happiness?
• Does peer pressure have a positive effect?
• Do girls face more peer pressure than boys?
• Do people need friends to be happy?
• Is cyberbullying worse than face-to-face bullying?
• Is it better to have a few close friends than lots of casual friends?
• Is it OK to end friendships over politics?
• Is marriage a thing of the past?
• Is popularity important?
• Should bullies be expelled?
• Should parents be held responsible for their children’s actions?
• Should you show empathy for everyone?
• Should you stand up for someone who is being bullied?

With these ideas, you can empower your students to confidently navigate controversial debate topics. And that’s just the beginning! Our Topic Library contains over 500 discussion topics, each with dedicated pros and cons, for a range of age groups and curriculum subjects including literature, civics, and history. So, head to Kialo Edu and unleash the power of debate in your classroom today!

We’d love to hear how your students have benefited from having classroom debates and discussions with your high school students. Contact us at feedback@kialo-edu.com or on social media.