It's Debatable.

The article discusses the importance of teaching young people to engage in effective debate as a means of fostering civic education and critical thinking. It critiques the approach of using financial resources to create a generation of politically aligned citizens, arguing that this strategy misunderstands human nature and the essence of citizenship. Instead, it advocates for debate as a valuable extracurricular activity that encourages inquiry and allows students to explore diverse perspectives. The article outlines practical strategies for enhancing debate programs, such as providing structured propositions, involving citizen judges, and prioritizing quality over scale, while also acknowledging the potential for debate to lead students to various ideological conclusions. [Extracted from the article]