IELTS

Writing:
With the pressures on today’s young people to succeed academically, some people believe that non- academic subjects at school (eg: physical education and cookery should be removed from the syllabus so that students can concentrate wholly on academic subjects.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
We live in interdependent and complex society in which education, by all means, is regarded as an essential service to improving people’s well being and their capacity, to better themselves and modify their environment. In recognition of this fact, our education aims are no longer to prepare students a body of knowledge but it goes further; that is to promote a broad- based education at the basic level for lifelong learning and existence. For that very reason, a sound curriculum is paramount for student success. If much of what we teach is cast in terms of specific academic subjects or standards to the exclusion of non- academic ones, we, unwittingly have stolen them the opportunities to acquire literacy, livelihood skills and the utilization of these skills in order to earn a living and become economically self- reliance members of the community.
For centuries, it has been mistakenly to assume that the study of certain subjects such as mathematics, physics… will result in a desirable effect on the development of intellect, since its aim is to develop the mind. However, in this time of rapid changing, in order to catch up with life students need not only to be capable enough but also flexible, adaptable enough to get success. Thus, the notion that some subjects are inherently intellectual and hence possessed of an almost magical power to train the faculty of thought is out of date. On the contrary, non- academic subjects which if taught in an intellectual way, in all aspects, are also intellectual, not in their fixed inner structure, but in their function, their power to start and direct significant inquiry and reflection. We’ll do our students and society a disservice when supposing that there is no intellectual worth in such subjects as physical, cookery, drawing…then remove them from the syllabus. Since to be a man of success, to do well academically is not enough, he must turn out to be a productive one who can fulfill any demanding tasks not only in academic but also in public lives.
The other point that counts is in the knowledge-based economy; to succeed academically is not all the conditions for a man to be considered all- rounded or democratic citizen who can contribute his part to life. Rather, people will require flexibility, a willingness to continue learning, an ability to work in teams, patience and skill in problem solving, intellectual and personal honesty. Success in personal life requires many of the same qualities which count for greater than academic work. The process of acquiring those kinds of life skills is to take place in learning non- academic subjects, which by mistakes are regarded as something inferior, which, in contrast, should make skills available to those who will lead a life independent of others so as to keep pace with development of the community. By playing sport, children can familiarize themselves with working in team, learning how to cooperate with others to reach the aim as well as acquire the sense of acceptance. Learning drawing, playing music will benefit the child higher-level skills, especially the skills of analytical thinking; grasping initiative, flexibility, communication and imagination. This also helps children define themselves in recognition of the potential gifts unknown to them.
For the conclusion, I would like to borrow the words of Newman “Any kind of knowledge, if it be really such, is its own reward”. So, the pursuit of knowledge should not be looked at in terms of what it is going to do for you in the future but as beneficial in itself. Knowledge is something that you gain that cannot be taken away from you. It is also something that you continue to gain throughout your life. Art, sport and music are the tools that assist you in ever- obtaining in your whole life.(636 WORDS)
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