Read the claim and counterclaim.

Claim: In order to provide students with the most well-rounded education and the greatest opportunity to succeed, school days should be extended.

Counterclaim: If school days were extended, children would not have time to participate in other enriching activities, such as spending time with friends.

Which is the most effective rebuttal to the counterclaim?

It is very important for teenagers’ social development to build bonds with friends and spend quality time with them.
Longer school days lead to a decrease in crime committed by teenagers, since students have less free time.
There are many ways that longer school days help children, but both sides must be considered.
Many students would prefer shorter school days, so making them longer may not be the best option.

1 answer

The most effective rebuttal to the counterclaim is:

"Longer school days lead to a decrease in crime committed by teenagers, since students have less free time."

This rebuttal directly addresses the concern that extended school days might limit time for social activities by highlighting a positive societal outcome of longer school days, thus reinforcing the claim that extending school days can be beneficial overall.