The importance of school education in child development

Text II:

It is widely accepted that the learning process is instrumental in shaping one’s personality and the way

he/she deals with situations of life. The shift of thoughts from bookish knowledge to knowledge of life, in

schools, has brought forth a sea of change. People have warmed up to the idea of education being the key

to a well-rounded development instead of just a means to acquire degrees and monetary success in life.

5 Education must facilitate the cultivation of a healthy thought process and groom our cognitive abilities. In the

present competitive world, education is a basic necessity for human beings after food, clothes and shelter.

School is the foremost fountain of knowledge children are exposed to. It gives a chance for them to

acquire knowledge on various fields of education such as people, literature, history, mathematics, politics,

and other numerous subjects. This contributes to cultivation in the thought process. When one is exposed

10 to the influences coming from various cultural sources, his/her own world and existence becomes vast.

School is the first avenue of socialising for a child. Up till then, parents and immediate family members are

the only people the child has human interactions with. (…). With schools, children are exposed not only to

new ideas but also to same aged compatriots. This instills sociable practices such as empathy, friendship,

participation and assistance, which turn out to be important in their adulthood.

15 A child, after conception, goes through physical development. While home provides a restricted outlet, in

school, a child can channelise his energy into more sociable avenues. Studies have pointed out that while

in familiar environment, the child is equipped to deal with sudden bursts of energy and learns to be at

his/her best behaviour only when exposed to same-aged individuals. Plus, familiarity leads to taking

advantage of situations. While in school, the playing field is levelled. Also, the presence of activities such

20 as sports and craft help children direct their boundless energy into something productive.

Earlier, schools were considered as places to learn events in history chapter, solve tough mathematical

problems or recite poems and sonnets. In the current educational scenario, a child learns to go beyond

the traditional way of rote learning. They are taught to develop a mind of their own and, through the

flexible curriculum, curiosity is promoted. The child is freed from the shackles of mental blocks and lets

25 his/her imagination run its course. Importance of imagination is stressed upon extensively. (…)

Life is also about learning, apart from living. While we can learn to a certain extent from our parents, they

tend to be unilateral. At school, children are exposed to various sources from whom they can imbibe

immense knowledge, instrumental for their development. Hence school is necessary for children to

inculcate the “workings of life”.

30 Education forms the foundation of any society. It is responsible for the economic, social, and political

growth and development of society in general. The thread of the growth of society depends upon the

quality of education that is being imparted. So schools play an important role in moulding a nation’s future

by facilitating the development of its future citizens.

Adapted from “The importance of school education in child development”, by Deepika Sharma Source: https://www.educationworld.in/the-importance-of-school-education-in-child-development/