Tuesday 15 December 2015

IELTS Academic Writing - Task 2

It is important for children to learn the difference between right and wrong at an early age. Punishment is necessary to help them learn this distinction.

To what extent do you agree or disagree with this opinion?

What sort of punishment should parents and teachers be allowed to use to teach good behaviour to children?

Societies have certain rules that need to be followed by all citizens and families also have their own beliefs about what is right and wrong. These need to be taught to children at a young age so that when they are older they will be able to understand what is right and what isn't.

Some believe that this distinction can be taught using some form of punishment. I believe that disciplining children will help them understand that there are consequences to bad behaviour. They will learn to respect their parents and other people in positions of authority. If parents do not want their children to become spoilt and live as adults believing they can get away with everything then they need to be strict with them from an early age. A parent who punishes their child is doing so in order to help them. For example, if a child is playing with matches, this is dangerous for them and they need to be taught not to do so again.

Good behaviour needs to be taught in an appropriate way. Beating a child doesn't achieve anything. It just makes them scared. That is why it is no longer accepted as a form of punishment. Teachers should not embarrass a child in front of their classmates. They should speak to the child privately in order to find out what is bothering them and also speak to the parents. Some schools have detention, warnings and in extreme cases expel students. At home parents can make their children reconsider their behaviour by taking away something that is valuable to them such as an electronic toy or send them to their room until they are ready to apologise.

Question taken from Cambridge IELTS 10 p.31