Do We Still Need the Post Office?

1. Set Focus
Frame the inquiry with these essential questions: What benefits does the post office provide? Could private companies provide the same benefits?

2. Read and Discuss
Have students read the debate and then answer the following questions:

• What is the issue being debated? How does it relate to current events? (The issue is whether the U.S. government should eliminate the post office and allow private companies to fully control mail and package delivery. The issue is timely because the post office is losing money due to less demand for its services.)

• Evaluate why these two authors might be interested in and qualified to comment on this issue. (Mark Dimondstein is the head of the union that advocates for postal workers. Parker Sheppard is a scholar at a think tank that supports conservative public policies.)
  

• Analyze Dimondstein’s view. (Dimondstein argues in favor of keeping the post office. He says that the post office provides vital services at reasonable rates to all Americans, including those who live in remote, unprofitable areas. He also argues that the post office could expand the kinds of services it offers so that more Americans could benefit.)

• Analyze Sheppard’s view. (Sheppard argues against keeping the post office. He says that its services are now mostly provided by private companies anyway, and that a government-subsidized postal service is no longer necessary to keep Americans informed.)

4. Writing Prompt
In an essay, evaluate one of the debaters’ arguments. Assess whether the reasoning is valid and whether it’s supported with evidence. Point out biases or missing information.

5. Classroom Debate
Do we still need the post office? Have students use the authors’ ideas, as well as their own, in a debate.

6. Vote
Go online to vote in Upfront’s poll—and see how students across the country voted.