Question
Some people think that older schoolchildren should learn wide range subjects and develop knowledge, other people think that they should only learn a small number of subjects in details.
Discuss and give your own opinion.
Sample answer
There has been a debate about the range of subjects students are encouraged to learn. While some people advocate a curriculum covering a wide variety of subjects, others propose a more concentrating way of study.
Some people argue that students should be engaged into a broad range of curriculum and their most convincing reason is the possible scope of knowledge and horizon that students can expand during their learning process. It is true that such students would be exposed to various disciplines which allow them to understand the world and society from a variety of perspectives. What's more, these diverse areas of knowledge are connected with each other directly or indirectly,
facilitating students to better and more deeply understand each subject and inspiring their curiosity to their world. However, not everyone gets developed in balance. While some students are excellent at language and weak at mathematics, some are talented in science and challenged by history. In these cases, coercing school children to study the subjects that they find difficult is very likely to end up with students getting tired of study altogether which is certainly the last thing that educators and parents would want to see.
The other side of the argument is also reasonable. Teenagers focusing on a few subjects tend to be able to perform well because they concentrate their limited time and energy on a narrow range of school work. The increased efficiency and academic results in turn enhance their confidence in their academic ability and sense of achievement. Allowing students to select a small number of subjects also gives them the opportunity to be only immersed in their favourite classes or what they are good at instead of those （that）they have no clue about at all. This is crucial for individuals and society as well because it means that everyone can be an able and useful person as everyone has his/her strength.
My personal view about this controversy is that both sides are based on good sense, and they can be reconciled with each other. In the primary stage of education, children should be encouraged to get involved in as many areas of knowledge as possible so as to have more chances to experience the world. As for the secondary school, adolescents basically have identified their tendency in academic and career terms, so they should be allowed to narrow down their study to a particular domain related to their future career.
