Some People Believe That Teaching Children at Home is Best for a Child’s Development- IELTS Writing Task 2

Some people believe that teaching children at home is best for a child’s development while others think that it is important for children to go to school. What are the advantages and disadvantages for homeschooling?

Outline

Essay Type

Advantages and Disadvantages essay

Introduction

Sentence 1 – Paraphrase the question topic and use synonyms to do so.

Sentence 2 – Explain that the essay will focus on covering the advantages and disadvantages of the topic.

Body paragraphs

Paragraph 1 – Mention the advantages of home-schooling, like flexible learning, flexible curriculum, emphasis on abstract thinking. Cite examples if possible.

Paragraph 2 – Mention the disadvantages of home-schooling, like a parent’s interference in the child’s education may not be a good thing, that a teacher is an expert in this regard unlike a parent.

Conclusion

Summarise both the sides of the argument and conclude the essay.

Sample Essay

It is considered that children should not be home-schooled by parents, rather be given a formal education in an institution. This essay will focus on the various advantages and disadvantages of the notion.

Home-schooling emerged as an alternative to expensive education, where parents themselves took responsibility for their child’s learning. It seems advantageous because the curriculum can be more personalised, compared to a rigid system in place in schools. One can also argue that with home-schooling, the child can be exposed to more abstract thoughts of learning, which make him capable of becoming a better thinker, helping him in the future.

There are certain demerits as well. To begin with, it might not be appropriate for parents to interfere with their child’s education, because a parent might have a dearth of knowledge and it is a teacher who is an expert in this regard. Moreover, teachers are capable of providing scrutinous learning, which a parent might not be able to as love and affection may pose a hindrance.

To conclude, a parent’s pivotal role is ubiquitous in a child’s life, sometimes assuming the role of a teacher as well. Such scenarios might suit well in rare cases, but the presence of a teacher maximises the learning a child can get. It is the parents that instil values and lead their children to become good humans, but it takes a teacher to make a child more knowledgeable and educated.

Band 9 Sample Essay

Education is one of the most important foundations for a child’s development. The manner in which students are tutored has a considerable impact on their growth. As a result, some people opine that homeschooling is better than attending schools, while others are not of the same opinion due to its drawbacks. Thus, the following essay will analyze both views before reaching a reasonable conclusion.

There are several benefits of homeschooling that shouldn’t be underestimated. One of the most significant benefits of students learning at home is the one-on-one assistance, resulting in a transparent delivery of knowledge to the student. Home tutoring allows students to maintain the speed and accuracy of learning according to the course requirements. In addition, it gives them the option to spend more time understanding a concept as the schedule is adaptable to their needs. For instance, students studying at home receive individualized coaching from their parents, which improves academic performance. Even the timing can be adjusted to suit their children’s needs. In addition, parents can also be aware of their children’s flaws and can assist them in overcoming challenges faced by them.

However, there are certain drawbacks of homeschooling, such as requiring parents’ undivided attention. Homeschooling can be a time-consuming procedure for parents to teach, specifically if the child has difficulties grasping the subject. If parents spend too much time schooling their children, they may feel constrained and frustrated. Taking practical subjects would be challenging with limited resources at home. Furthermore, parents’ love and affection will act as barriers, preventing them from restraining their children. As a result, teachers in reputable educational institutions are relatively capable of providing intensive tutoring and coaching to students, which a parent may not be able to provide.

To summarise, it is evident that homeschooling allows children to study in a more flexible environment. Though stressful at times, the outcome will be rewarding. Without a doubt, parents are the first teachers who instill positive values and mould their children’s lives at an early age, but it is a teacher who instills basic morality, subject matter knowledge, art, and the value of time, thereby optimizing a child’s learning capacity.

Vocabulary 

• Home-school 

Meaning – Home-schooling, also known as home education or elective home education (EHE), is the education of school-aged children at home or a variety of places other than school.
Example – Raju was home-schooled from age 8 to 12.

• Institution

Meaning – an organization founded for a religious, educational, professional, or social purpose.
Example – There are various good educational institutions in our city.

• Notion 

Meaning – a conception of or belief about something.
Example – I believe in the notion of non-violence.

• Alternative 

Meaning – available as another possibility or choice.
Example – Becoming vegetarian is an alternative to the non-vegetarian diet.

• Curriculum 

Meaning – the subjects comprising a course of study in a school or college.
Example – The recent policy change implementation has changed the school’s curriculum.

• Abstract 

Meaning – existing in thought or as an idea but not having a physical or concrete existence.
Example – Nowadays, abstract art is taking the world by storm.

• Dearth 

Meaning – a scarcity or lack of something.
Example – The case was dismissed as there was a dearth of evidence.

• Scrutinous 

Meaning – strict, thorough
Example – The new headmaster has implemented a scrutinous morning routine.

• Hindrance

Meaning – a thing that provides resistance, delay, or obstruction to something or someone.
Example – Corruption poses a major hindrance in our country’s road to development.

• Ubiquitous

Meaning – present, appearing, or found everywhere.
Example – His ubiquitous presence can be found through his works of literature