CBC Archives

Ask the students to brainstorm or explain the elements of a debate. Be sure students clearly understand all of the elements. Explain to students that they will be preparing and participating in a debate arguing either for or against the need for universal day care in Canada.

Working in teams of four or five students will gather information on the topic of the day care debate through examination of the topic Who Cares for Our Kids?: The Changing Face of Day Care in Canada on the CBC Radio and Television Archives Web site. Students should focus primarily on clips 2, 3, 5, 8, and the Additional Clips “The emotional upheaval of childcare” and “Is day care bad for boys?”

Be sure that students understand that they must be able to argue on both sides of the issue so they must gather information that supports both side of the arguments for and against dual-income families and universal day care. Students can search beyond the site on their own time. Remind them to cite all sources.

Bring the teams together and hold a debating tournament based on the resolution: Be it resolved that the Canadian government should implement universal day care. Each team should have an opportunity to debate both sides of the issue.

The top two teams in the debating tournament can hold a championship debate in which the rest of the students determine the winner.