Academic Discussion and Writing Should parents and communities play an active role in improving the quality of school education?

Question: Should parents and communities play an active role in improving the quality of school education? 

 

 

☆Let’s Think

1)     If you were a parent, would you send your child to a public school or a private school? Why

2)     In Japan, the board of education work for the purpose. For example, they choose textbooks, change school rules, and dismiss teachers. However, the members are not elected from parents or community members. In the U.S., the board of education and, in the U.K., the school governing body consist of parents, community members, and students. Which do you think is better? Why?

 

 

☆Hints for Points

Agree

1.     The concept of children as the asset of the community will be revived and this will lead to more involved citizens’ actions to require better childcare from the government and stimulate awareness in citizens’ power in the government.

2.     Parents are the most serious about providing quality education to their children.  e.g. Governments often cut budgets for education.

3.     The community, rather than the government, often know what should be taught at school, so their voices should be reflected more in education.

e.g. About 100 years ago, in Taisho era, merchants of the city of Osaka felt the need of language skills in the international trade and funded to make a language school for young merchants. The government nationalized the school after WWII, naming it Osaka University of Foreign Studies.

4.     Mind development will be accelerated.  e.g. Some communities have started support systems for learning by retiree volunteers and has improved performances of children at school.

 

Disagree

1.     Leaving education to specialists is the best policy. The government has the department of education and trains qualified professionals to provide a good education. Voting is the channel to reflect citizens’ opinions.

2.     Influential entities such as strong men or religious organizations can prevent proper education.

e.g. There are people who are against girls’ education because of their belief.

 

 

☆Sample Essay Structure

A        【Thesis】I am totally for the active role of parents and communities in school education in terms of mind development.

【Supporting Details】Exposure to various individuals in the community will stimulate awareness and cognition. 《Example》For example, after-school schooling volunteers provide children with knowledge and experiences crucial to mind development. They teach them morals, pass them down community history, culture, and tradition, or tell them wise perspectives that are not taught at school. They can also give children a sense of security through the interactions. 《Follow-up》Although school curriculum includes mind development, the good old way of nurturing is often more effective.

【Counterargument-treatment】It is true that too many cooks can spoil the broth as the saying goes, but it is the golden rule of a good society that youngsters are taken care of by the adults around them to raise the next generation for the continuation of the community.

【Conclusion】Therefore, communal involvement is vital in education. (152 words)

 

B        【Introduction】With caveats, I think parents and communities should play an active role in improving the quality of education.

【Benefits】Citizen’s involvement makes reforms appropriate, easier, and faster. Financial aid from the community for education can increase. Also, adults can learn more about child-rearing.

【Caveat 1】On the other hand, ideology can overwhelm reality and may make the school system can be disrupted such as children being forced to follow unnecessary rules.

【Caveat 2】Also, the power structure among parents or in the community may undermine the education, leading to greater inequality.

【Conclusion】Active participation of the adults in education is fundamentally good, but unless it is decided to what extent parents and communities are involved in education, adverse effects may follow. (107 words)

 

Write your response in 10 minutes. Show each other your responses. Write down questions or suggestions to each other’s response.

 

                                               DRAFT