Since the 1990s, schools have implemented a zero tolerance policy in an attempt to address challenges in
the school setting. However, research has indicated that these policies disproportionately affect students of
color, creating a “school to prison pipeline.”
Debate Question:
Do zero tolerance policies in school work? If so, do the benefits outweigh the costs to students of color?
Oratorical Topic:
Background:
Studies have shown that a college graduate will make over 1 million dollars more in salary compared to someone
without a high school degree over the course of their lifetime. However, the decrease in government funding
is making the path to college more of a challenge than in the past.
Oratorical Question:
Is a traditional four-year college degree still the best path to employment and economic security for males of
color in America?
