You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.
Some people think that schools are too competitive and that this has
a negative impact on children. Others believe the competitive
environment encourages children to achieve.
Discuss both these views and give your opinion.
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples
from your own knowledge or experience.
BC sample:
Education is an integral aspect of society, and the debate on
whether schools are excessively competitive or beneficially so has
persisted for many years. While some argue that intense
competition harms children, others claim that it cultivates essential
life skills and motivation. This essay will examine both perspectives
before arguing that a balanced approach is optimal.
On the one hand, excessive competition in schools can result
in undue stress and anxiety among students. When children are
constantly pitted against one another, they may experience a
decline in self-esteem, particularly if they struggle academically.
Furthermore, the fear of failure may deter students from taking risks
or exploring creative solutions, thus hindering their overall growth.
For instance, research has shown that students in highly competitive
academic environments often exhibit signs of burnout and mental
exhaustion at a young age. Consequently, prioritizing mental well-
being and fostering a collaborative learning atmosphere is crucial to
ensuring students' holistic development.
On the other hand, competition can serve as a powerful
motivator that drives students to excel. It instills a sense of
discipline, resilience, and ambition, which are essential qualities for
success in the professional world. When students strive to
outperform their peers, they may develop a strong work ethic and
learn valuable lessons about perseverance. A prime example of this
is evident in sports, where competition pushes athletes to refine
their skills and achieve excellence. In academics, a moderate level
of rivalry can inspire students to work harder and reach their full
potential.
In conclusion, while an overly competitive environment may be
detrimental to children's well-being, competition itself is not
inherently harmful. A balanced approach that encourages healthy
rivalry while fostering cooperation and emotional support is the ideal
solution. Schools should cultivate an atmosphere where students
feel motivated to succeed without compromising their mental
health.
MY WORK:
Rivalry is considered a negative thing in educational settings
by some people, whereas others value competition more. Whilst
competition has harmful effects on some mental health aspects, I
believe that its advantageous effects on social aspects are more
dominant. Primarily, social bonds should always be the top priority in
human society.
To begin with, there are notable drawbacks associated with
rivalry. One certain issue is that it increases student stress when
they are almost in a high-pressure state. For instance, spending a
great deal of time on homework and lacking time for entertainment
might lead to burnout and depression for them. What is more, it is
bad behavior that will increase in students' manners. This is to say,
they would feel jealous or refuse to help classmates or schoolmates
if they consider them potential rivals rather than reliable partners.
In contrast, however, there are undoubtedly benefits flowing
from competition. One obvious advantageous effect is that it
increases motivation at large. This is primarily because when there
are more rivals, more efforts and hard work will be made in order to
remain competitive. Above all, social cohesion and relationships
could be strengthened between students in a team when they
compete with other teams to get trophies. In this case, they have a
better awareness of responsibility and support as the tasks are
assigned to every team member. The effect of this is that students
will feel more connected and empathetic towards one another.
In conclusion, there are sharp negative aspects in terms of
competition, such as boosting stress and lessening kindness.
Nonetheless, its upsides, which consist of raising motivation as well
as tightening relationships, are still more vital for humankind.
