All elementary and secondary schools in Japan should have classes on Saturdays.
「日本のすべての小・中・高等学校は、週６日制にすべきである。是か非か。」
（第２回埼玉いなほカップ・第２回全国高校生英語ディベート大会論題）
Affirmative Constructive Speech
We of the Saitama Debate Boys believe that all elementary and secondary schools in Japan should have classes on Saturdays.
Plan
1. All elementary and secondary schools in Japan shall have 4 classes in the morning on Saturdays as they did 10 years ago.
2. All necessary measures shall be taken to implement this plan.
Our plan will bring the following
advantage.
Advantage The students will improve their academic achievements.
(a) Analysis(現状分析（現状に問題がある、現状ではメリットは得られない）):
Academic achievements of the Japanese students have been declining. PISA, the Program for International Student Assessment, said, (Quote)
“Academic skills of the Japanese high school students have declined a lot recently. In 2000, Japan ranked eighth in reading skills but in 2003 it dropped to 14th. As for mathematical skills,
it ranked 1st in 2000, but it was 6th in 2003.”(Unquote) This is because the government has cut 30% of the course of study and stopped classes on Saturdays. Now only private schools have
classes on Saturdays. What’s worse, the students cannot study by themselves. A survey done by Benesse showed (Q) “only 40% of the students study by themselves even though 75% of them belong
to the academic course.
(b) Link(Plan→AD（プランからメリットまでの発生過程）):
Our plan will improve their academic achievements. If we re-introduce the six-day week system, we can revive the contents which were cut out of
the course of study, and make the students to study on Saturdays. Furthermore, we can motivate the students to study. A research done by Benesse in 2004 showed (Q) “The students who can study
a lot by themselves would like to come to school on Saturdays.” (UQ) This means that the more they come to school, the more motivated to study they would be.
(c) Impact（メリットの重要性、深刻性）: We have 2 impacts.
(1)The improved academic achievements of the students will help Japan lead in the world as an economic power. Japan has developed to the second largest economic power based on people’s
diligence. However, recently, other Asian nations such as China and Korea have been developing rapidly. If we cannot stop students’ academic abilities declining, Japan will no longer be able
to stay as an economic giant.
(2) We can narrow the gap between the rich and the poor. Now it is only the children from rich families who can go to private schools which provide classes on Saturdays. We will fairly give
all the children chance to get classes on Saturdays.
Therefore, we have to go back to the 6 day week school system as soon as possible.
Negative Constructive Speech
We of the Saitama ALT All Stars canNOT believe that all elementary and secondary schools in Japan should have classes on Saturdays because the affirmative plan will generate the following
serious disadvantages.
Disadvantage 1
The students and teachers will lose their chance to enjoy and effectively use Saturdays.
(a) Analysis(現状分析(現状に問題はない、現状ではデメリットは生じない):
Saturday holidays benefit the students and teachers a lot. According to a research done by Benesse, (Q)“The students now spend more time with
family members or friends than before.”(UQ) As for the teachers, a survey done by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, 文科省showed (Q) “The teachers work 65 hours
overtime a month on average.”(UQ) In order to work hard both students and teachers must have time to relax and prepare. What’s more, they can participate in community activities and volunteer
work on Saturdays. They can learn important lessons out of school and contribute to the society. School is not the only place we learn. However,
(b) Link(Plan→DＡ（プランからデメリットまでの発生過程）) :
The affirmative plan will force all students and teachers to go to school on Saturdays. So naturally they will have less time to relax and learn
something which they cannot learn at school.
(c) Impact（デメリットの重要性、深刻性）:
Less time to relax and prepare will badly affect their work. Besides, the students will lose their chance to learn through experiences outside
school which is more important than academic achievements.
Disadvantage 2
The students’ academic achievements will decline, rather than improve.
(a) Analysis(現状分析(現状に問題はない、現状ではデメリットは生じない):
What the students need is to review the lessons, NOT more lessons on Saturdays. A study shows we tend to forget as much as 75% of what we learn
in a week. A survey done by 文科省in 2003 indicates (Q) “About 40% of the high school students do not fully understand lessons.”(UQ) So, we need time to review individually, not to learn even
more at school! The education in Finland proves this. The result of PISA 2003 showed that the students in Finland were the best. Of course they do not have lessons on Saturdays.
(b) Link(Plan→DＡ（プランからデメリットまでの発生過程）):
Their plan will give more lessons and less time to review. So the students will be given a lot of things to learn with no time to learn by
themselves.
(c) Impact（デメリットの重要性、深刻性）:
After all their academic achievements will decline, rather than improve.
Therefore we must stop having classes on Saturdays.