Standing in front of your class, ready to give a speech can make your heart beat faster. Your hands might shake a little. You look at your notes and take a deep breath. What will you talk about? A question of policy speech gives you a chance to say what should be done about a problem. It lets you share ideas on how to fix things in your school, town, or even the world. These speeches help you think about solutions and show others why your ideas matter.
Many students find it hard to pick a topic for these kinds of speeches. You might wonder what issues are good to talk about or how to make others care about your ideas. Don’t worry! This guide will help you find the perfect topic for your question of policy speech – one that you care about and that will get your listeners thinking too.
Question of Policy Speech Ideas
A question of policy speech lets you take a stand on how something should be fixed or changed. Here are 25 great ideas that will help you create a speech that makes people listen and think.
1. Should School Lunches Be Free For All Students?
Free food at school helps kids who don’t have enough to eat at home. When students have full bellies, they can pay attention better in class and learn more. Some kids skip lunch because they feel bad about using free lunch tickets while their friends pay.
Making lunch free for everyone means no one feels different or left out. It costs money to give free food to all kids, but the good things that come from it might be worth more than the cost. Kids who eat good food do better in school, and that helps everyone in the long run.
2. Should Plastic Bags Be Banned In Stores?
Plastic bags hurt our planet in big ways. They end up in oceans and harm fish, turtles, and birds who think the bags are food. These bags can take hundreds of years to break down, and even then, they turn into tiny bits of plastic that still cause problems.
Countries like Kenya have already said no to plastic bags, and they’ve seen less trash and cleaner water. Paper bags and cloth bags work just as well for carrying things home from stores. People just need a little time to get used to bringing their own bags when they shop. The switch might seem hard at first, but the good it does for our earth makes it worth it.
3. Should Kids Get More Recess Time At School?
Playing outside helps kids in so many ways. It gives them exercise and fresh air. It lets them use their loud voices and run around after sitting still in class. Kids who get to play come back to class ready to learn again.
Research shows that kids who have more time to play at school do better on tests and have fewer behavior problems. Finland gives students a 15-minute break after each 45-minute lesson, and their schools are some of the best in the world. American schools could learn from this and give kids more chances to play during the day.
4. Should Voting Be Required By Law?
Some countries like Australia make all citizens vote. If people don’t vote, they have to pay a fine. This means almost everyone has a say in who leads the country. In places like the United States, sometimes less than half of people vote in big elections.
Required voting makes sure the leaders really represent what most people want. It also makes people pay more attention to what’s happening in their country. The downside is that some people might just pick any name without thinking about it because they have to vote. But overall, having more people vote leads to better choices for everyone.
5. Should Cities Ban Cars From Downtown Areas?
Cars make the air dirty and take up a lot of space that could be used for parks or walking paths. Some cities like Oslo in Norway have already made parts of their downtown areas car-free. People there walk, bike, or take buses and trains instead.
Car-free zones make downtown areas nicer places to be. The air is cleaner, there’s less noise, and it’s safer for kids and older people. Shops and restaurants often do better business when more people walk by. The hard part is making sure people can still get downtown easily without cars, but good bus and train systems can solve this problem.
6. Should All New Houses Be Built With Solar Panels?
The sun gives us free power every day. Solar panels on houses catch this power and turn it into electricity. This helps cut down on using coal and gas, which are bad for our air and make the earth warmer.
Adding solar panels when a house is first built costs less than putting them on later. Over time, the panels save money on electric bills. Some places like California have already started making rules that all new houses must have solar panels. While this makes new houses cost more at first, the savings on power bills make up for it in just a few years.
7. Should Kids Under 14 Be Allowed On Social Media?
Social media sites can be fun but also cause problems for young kids. Children might see things that upset them or talk to people who aren’t nice. They might feel bad about themselves if they don’t get enough likes or if they see friends having fun without them.
Brain doctors say kids’ brains are still growing and changing a lot before age 14. They need time to learn how to handle big feelings and make good choices. Waiting until kids are a bit older to join social media gives them time to get better at these skills. It also gives them more time to play outside, read books, and hang out with friends face-to-face.
8. Should Fast Food Be Taxed Higher To Fight Obesity?
Fast food often has lots of sugar, salt, and fat but not many good nutrients. Eating too much can lead to being very overweight, which can cause many health problems. Some places have put extra taxes on sugary drinks, and people bought fewer of them.
The money from these taxes could help pay for programs that teach people about healthy eating or that make fruits and vegetables cost less. Some people say it’s not fair to make unhealthy food cost more because sometimes it’s the only cheap food option for families who don’t have much money. A better plan might include both the tax and more help for these families.
9. Should Students Be Allowed To Grade Their Teachers?
Teachers grade students all the time. What if students could also grade their teachers? Students know if a teacher explains things clearly or if the class is boring. Their feedback could help teachers get better at their jobs.
Many colleges already ask students what they think about their classes and teachers. Some high schools and middle schools are starting to do this too. The key is asking good questions like “Did the teacher help you when you were stuck?” rather than “Did you like the teacher?” This gives useful information without turning it into a popularity contest.
10. Should All Public Places Have Free Wi-Fi?
The internet helps us learn, stay in touch with friends, and find important information. Not everyone can afford internet at home. Free Wi-Fi in parks, libraries, and other public places helps everyone get online when they need to.
Cities like New York have put free Wi-Fi in subway stations and old phone booths. This has helped students do homework and job seekers fill out applications. The cost of setting up free Wi-Fi is high at first, but it can be paid for by small ads or by using money from city taxes. The benefits of helping everyone stay connected make the cost worth it.
11. Should School Uniforms Be Required?
School uniforms make getting dressed for school easy. You don’t have to decide what to wear or worry about having the newest styles. Uniforms can also make students feel like they’re all on the same team.
Some studies show that schools with uniforms have fewer behavior problems and better attendance. However, uniforms cost money, and growing kids need new ones often. Some students also feel uniforms take away their chance to express themselves. Finding a balance, like having a simple dress code instead of strict uniforms, might work best for most schools.
12. Should Zoos Be Closed Down?
Zoos let people see animals they might never see in the wild. Good zoos teach people about animals and why we need to protect them. Some zoos help save animals that are almost gone from the wild by breeding them safely.
But even in the best zoos, animals don’t have as much space as they would in the wild. Some get bored or sad. Animals like elephants, who walk many miles a day in the wild, can’t do that in a zoo. Maybe instead of zoos, we could have big nature parks where animals have more room and people can see them in settings more like their real homes.
13. Should Homework Be Banned?
Too much homework can make kids tired and stressed. It can take away time for playing, family meals, and just relaxing. Some teachers and parents wonder if homework really helps kids learn or if it just makes them dislike school.
Finland has some of the best schools in the world, and their students don’t get much homework. Instead, they spend more time in class working on projects and solving problems. Still, doing some practice at home can help kids get better at skills like reading and math. The best plan might be to give less homework and make sure it’s the kind that really helps kids learn.
14. Should Bottled Water Be Banned?
Bottled water creates a lot of trash. In the United States alone, people throw away 60 million plastic water bottles every day. Most end up in dumps or in nature where they harm animals and make our planet dirty.
Tap water in most parts of the United States is safe to drink and costs much less than bottled water. For places where tap water isn’t good, we could put water stations in schools and parks where people can fill their own bottles. This would create less trash and save people money too.
15. Should All Students Learn A Second Language?
Learning another language helps your brain grow stronger. It makes it easier to understand other subjects too. People who speak more than one language often get better jobs when they grow up.
Young kids learn new languages faster than older kids or adults. Starting in kindergarten or first grade gives kids the best chance to become really good at a new language. In many countries in Europe, kids start learning a second language when they’re very young, and most grow up speaking at least two languages well.
16. Should Physical Education Be Required Every Day?
Moving our bodies helps our brains work better. Kids who get exercise every day do better on tests and have an easier time paying attention in class. Regular physical activity also helps keep kids healthy and teaches them habits that can keep them healthy as grown-ups.
Many schools have cut back on PE classes to spend more time on reading, math, and other subjects. But this might actually make it harder for kids to learn. Finding ways to include movement throughout the school day, not just in PE class, could be the best solution for helping kids learn and stay healthy.
17. Should Single-Use Plastics Be Banned?
Plastic straws, forks, and cups get used once and then thrown away. They fill up our dumps and often end up in oceans where they hurt sea animals. These plastics break down into tiny pieces that can get into our food and water.
Paper straws and wooden forks work just as well and don’t harm the earth as much. Some restaurants and cities have already stopped using plastic straws and other single-use items. It might take some getting used to, but small changes like these can make a big difference for our planet.
18. Should Animal Testing Be Stopped?
Many makeup products, cleaners, and medicines get tested on animals first to see if they’re safe for people. These tests can hurt or kill the animals. Some people think this isn’t fair to the animals, who don’t have a choice.
New ways to test products without using animals are being created. Computer models and lab-grown cells can often show if something is safe without hurting any living creatures. As these methods get better, we may be able to stop using animals for testing altogether.
19. Should Junk Food Ads Aimed At Kids Be Banned?
Kids see thousands of ads each year for candy, chips, sugary drinks, and fast food. These ads make unhealthy food look fun and cool. Young kids don’t always understand that ads are trying to sell them something.
Some countries like Chile have strict rules about food ads aimed at kids. They don’t allow cartoon characters on sugar cereal boxes or toy giveaways with fast food meals. Since these rules started, children have been asking for healthier foods. This shows that limiting these ads could help kids make better food choices.
20. Should All Schools Teach Computer Coding?
Knowing how to code helps you tell computers what to do. Jobs using these skills are growing fast, and they often pay well. Even if you don’t become a programmer, coding teaches you how to solve problems and think logically.
Countries like Estonia teach coding to all students starting in first grade. They see it as a basic skill like reading or math. Adding coding to all schools would take teacher training and computers, which cost money. But the benefits for students’ futures might make this cost worthwhile.
21. Should College Be Free?
College costs keep going up each year. Many students have to borrow money to pay for school and then spend years paying it back. Some smart students don’t go to college because they can’t afford it.
Countries like Germany and Norway offer free college to their citizens. They pay for it with taxes, but they get more educated workers who earn better wages and pay more taxes later. Making college free in the United States would be expensive, but it could lead to a stronger economy and give more people a chance to follow their dreams.
22. Should Every School Day Include Time In Nature?
Going outside and being in nature helps kids feel calm and focused. It gives their eyes a break from screens and lets them see interesting plants and animals. Studies show that time in nature can lower stress and help kids with attention problems.
Some schools in places like Finland and Japan make outdoor time part of every school day, no matter the weather. They’ve found that kids who spend time outside are healthier, happier, and learn better when they come back inside. Adding just 30 minutes of outdoor time each day could make a big difference for students.
23. Should The School Day Start Later?
Most middle and high schools start very early in the morning. But doctors say that teenagers’ bodies are set to fall asleep late and wake up late. Early school start times mean many teens don’t get enough sleep.
Schools that have changed to later start times have seen students get better grades, miss fewer days, and have fewer car crashes. The main problem is that later starts can make it hard for parents to get to work on time and can affect things like sports practices. But for the health and learning of students, it might be worth finding ways to work around these challenges.
24. Should Election Day Be A National Holiday?
Many people don’t vote because they have to work on Election Day. Making this day a holiday would give everyone time to go to their voting place. It would show that voting is important and something we should all do.
Some people say we could just have more early voting days or mail-in voting instead of making a new holiday. Both of these ideas could work. The most important thing is finding ways to make it easier for all citizens to vote, no matter how busy they are or where they live.
25. Should Healthcare Be Free For Everyone?
Getting sick can cost a lot of money. Some people don’t go to the doctor when they need to because they worry about the bills. Countries like Canada and the United Kingdom give free healthcare to everyone who lives there.
Free healthcare would cost a lot in taxes, but it might save money overall by helping people get care before they get very sick. It would also mean that no one would have to choose between paying for medicine and buying food or paying rent. This is a big change that would affect everyone, so it needs careful planning.
Wrapping Up
Finding the right topic for your question of policy speech might take some time. Pick something you really care about. When you talk about an issue that matters to you, your words will be stronger and your speech will be better. Your passion will help others see why they should care too.
Look at the list above and see what catches your eye. Then learn more about that topic. The more you know, the more confident you’ll feel when giving your speech. Go ahead – pick a policy question that fires you up, and start planning how you’ll convince others that your solution makes sense!