At some schools, teachers' pay is determined by reviewing a set salary schedule, while at others teachers who produce results with their students may receive financial reward for doing so. The concept of merit pay is a hotly contested one, with some arguing that merit should not factor into pay decisions at all as doing so allows for favoritism. Research merit pay policies in your state as well as neighboring ones to see if this is something directly applicable to the teaching staff in your area schools. Make an argument for or against this performance-based pay system, proving strong supports for your stance.
At many schools, students are not given free reign over their dress, but must instead abide by school uniform rules. Some contend that these uniforms prevent an assortment of ills, including bullying and school violence, while others argue that forcing children to wear uniforms is tantamount to taking away their voices. Choose a side on this issue and gather support for your argument. Make a case for your stance and present it to listeners.
It use to be that the only free schools to which parents had access were public ones and those seeking an alternative to the public option had to open their pocketbooks and pay for a private education. Today, parents often have other options in the form of charter schools. While some see charter schools as creating a desirably competitive atmosphere, others see charters as chronically mismanaged institutions that steal money away from public schools. Make this the topic of your speech and choose a side in this debate.
With an ever-escalating concern over the safety of schools, many focus attention on keeping schools a safe place to learn. Research this topic and gather some information on potential safety measures that schools could adopt to improve safety. In your persuasive speech, present some of the information that you found and argue for the methods of keeping schools safe that you found the most logical and practical.