Some people think that parents should teach their children how to be good members of society. Others, however, believe that school is the best place to learn this. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
3 IELTSbiz learners have answered this Task 2 question and had it marked on the four official criteria; bands ranged from 6.5 to 7, with a median of Band 6.5. Compare the answers below to see exactly what the higher bands did differently.
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These are learner answers, not model answers — including the ones that scored well. Read them for what the criteria reward and punish, not as text to copy. A memorised essay attached to a slightly different question scores worse than an honest attempt, and examiners recognise recited material quickly.
Some people believe that children should be taught by their parents about how to function as useful members of society, while others believe that sending children to educational institutions is the best way for them to study this. Although the latter opinion can be beneficial in some cases, I believe that family upbringing plays a more important role in educating children to be good parts of the community.
Schools can be considered suitable places for children to learn to be good citizens. With standardized educational methods, schools can foster children’s cognitive development so that they are able to contribute to society in the future. For example, Trung Vuong school and Vinschool are well known for having nurtured successful alumni such as Professor Ngo Bao, Professor Nguyen Hung who have devoted their talents to the development of the country. However, these people only represent a small fraction of the total number of students attending schools, and thus sending children to schools cannot be the best method of educating them to be good members of society.
I believe that parents play a more important role in teaching them how to be good citizens. In Vietnam, the average class size is 20 students, which makes it difficult for educators to provide proper schooling for each student. One to one lessons at home, on the other hand, allow children to progress faster. Furthermore, parents form stronger bonds with their offspring and thus, it is easier for them to shape children’s personalities at an early age. For example, by telling stories such as Robin Hood, Cinderella before bedtime, parents can instil a sense of compassion and integrity into them. These children are likely to become good members of society when they grow up.
In conclusion, although sending children to schools can be seen as a way of teaching them how to be good citizens, I believe that domestic upbringing has a bigger impact on determining who they are in the future.
Our children must be taught to be good members of society. However, often the question is who should be primarily responsibile for laying such a strong foundation of values for children - parents or schools? I believe schools should be primarily responsible for this with parents playing important role as quarterbacks.
Schools are experts in designing curriculum that is age appropriate. Moreover, the teachers are not only subject matter experts but also highly experienced in delivering complex concepts and ideas to children lucidly. I have personally experienced this with my 8-years-old daughter in Canada. Neither me nor my spouse could have done a better job than my daughter's teacher in explaining her about diversity, inclusion, and love for nature.
Another strong example to support my argument could be Japanese Schools, who have been consistently recognized for their contributions towards character building of children. Japanese kids learn to be responsible, respectful, independent, considerate, and punctual at schools. Moreover, their parents have also embeded these values as children in the same schools, which makes it easier for the schools to reinforce the teaching.
Nonetheless, parents responsibility and the role can not be undermined. As the biggest influence on kids, it is parents responsibility to be mindful of what they say and do as kids consciously and subconsciously mimick their parents behaviours and values.
In a nutshell, school is the best place to teach children to be good members of society. However, parents have important role to play in too and it starts with parents themselves being good members of society too!
Our children must be taught to be good members of society. Almost everyone concurs with this. However, people have diverse opinions when it comes to determining who should be primarily responsibile for laying such a strong foundation of values for children - parents or schools? I believe schools should be primary responsible for this. However, it does not mean that parents simply shrugg off and walk away from this responsibility. They have a crucial role to play in too.
Schools have a structured way of teaching things. These ways are designed by experts who understand child psychology well. Moreover, the teachers are not only experts but also highly experienced in delivering complex concepts and ideas to children lucidly.
I have personally experienced this with my 8 years old daughter in Canada. Her teacher did a fantastic job of explaining her about embracing diversity, inclusion, love and respect for nature, and reconcilation with indigenous communities etc. through story telling, fun activities, group work, sports, and classroom etiquettes.
As a parent, although my wife and I wanted out daughter to learn all of this and be a reponsible member of society. But in retrospect, we agree that we could not have done better job than her teacher on this and our peers also resonate with us on this too.
However, does this mean that we should hand over the responsibility to schools entirely? No. In the early years, parents are the biggest influence on kids. They also consciously and subconsciously mimick their parents behaviours and values. This is where parents need to be mindful of not just their words but also their actions to make sure their kids are learning to be good members of society.
In a nutshell, school is the best place to teach children to be good members of society. However, parents have important role to play in too.
What band do answers to this IELTS question usually get?
Across 3 graded answers on IELTSbiz, bands ranged from 6.5 to 7, with a median of Band 6.5. Each was marked on Task Response, Coherence & Cohesion, Lexical Resource and Grammatical Range & Accuracy.
What separates the Band 7 answer from the Band 6.5 answer?
The largest difference is Grammatical Range & Accuracy: 7 in the Band 7 answer against 6 in the Band 6.5 answer. Open each answer to read the examiner's reason for every criterion.