Private religious schools should be shut down.

1. My opponent states that children having no say in things is normal. He compares religion too sports. MY issue is that religion is a BIT different than sports. Have a child play football at a young age doesn't make him play football until the day he dies. Theology and sports are very different things and sports have no place on this debate. When children are taught this at such a young age, it becomes their life. They usually never think for themselves in the time after their schooling. The problem with this is that the children wont just shake religion later on in life. This stuff sticks with them. What these private schools are teaching these children, the children strongly believe. Usually, kids who go too these religious schools never learn to question. 2. My opponent states that "Private religious schools don't force you to adopt a sort of hate towards other religions." I don't recall stating they did. I stated that they are separated from other cultures, not prejudiced against them. Private schools kids don't really get too know other children of other religions. They are only exposed to their own culture. If these children were too go to public schools, they would meet new people from different faiths and ultimately be more accepting. And you can't tell me that these religious kids go out on weekends and look for atheists and agnostics too get to know them. If the children were to go to public schools they would be kind of forced into this multicultural society. My opponent also states that "They have their own religious freedom and can choose where they want to go." This statement refers back to contention #1. These don't have ANY freedoms on the matter! They can't control if they are Christian, Muslim, or Jewish. It's the luck of the draw. It should be the kid's choice later in life if they want to be part of a certain religion. 3. I agree with you on your statement that it's the parent's choice, but in my opinion, the parent's aren't totally aware of what they are doing. I'm just stating that if there are no more private schools, then the parent's would save money, even if they are pissed. It's like drug addiction in some ways. They don't completely know what they are doing. They don't see the consequences (substantial loss of money every year) and they don't want too change. If the drug addict was forced to change (prison, rehab, etc,.) he wouldn't be the happiest person in the world. But in the end, it's all for the better of the individual. 4. My opponent states that places of worship are no different then private schools. You couldn't be more wrong. These children go too these schools EVERYDAY and learn about this stuff EVERYDAY. In the matter of holy places, they go there once a weeks and don't learn anything, because they are children and the context of church services are very different then the context of private school lessons. If a child were to go to public school and learn about all the different religions, and actually inform himself correctly about the world, the child would make his/her own decision based on their thoughts, and not their parents. 5. brainwashing - forcible indoctrination into a new set of attitudes and beliefs. [1] I have every right too state that these kids are being brainwashed, and not just because it's my right, but because it is the total truth. These kids are taught this stuff at such a young age, when they are learning about the world through their own eyes, and when they are taught this stuff by grown ups, it's the utmost truth to them. They can't question it, their kids. And when they continue to "learn" this stuff, it only worsens their judgment. My opponent asks why I state that private schools should be shut down? This is the biggest and most important reason. These "teachers" are breaching these kid's mind and making them believe in their religion, because they are getting paid to do it. That is outrageous. These children's futures are basically decided by these schools, and I am very angered by it. child abuse - the physical or emotional or sexual mistreatment of children [2] In closing, these schools are basically forms of child abuse. They totally mistreat these children in way my opponent may not comprehend, but most of the intelligent human population may. They basically destroy their judgment skills for the rest of their lives, and that's worse than slapping a kid if you ask me. Before, my opponent states that it's pure prejudice and rude that I state these things. I must agree with you. I was very rude. But there comes a certain point in every atheist/agnostic's life that they realize what religion has done too the world and what it's continuing to do. When a person comes too that realization, he/she learns that being rude, may be the only way to reach these brainwashed people's thick skulls. I hope that my opponent sometime may come to a realization himself and step outside the comfort box of an average christian citizen and take a good look at the world, not through his eyes, but through everyone elses. I eagerly await the rebuttle, and thanks once again for the opportunity to debate this subject. (Sources) [1] http://wordnetweb.princeton.edu... [2] http://wordnetweb.princeton.edu...