The School and Not the Family is Responsible for the Shaping of Youth Today

I strongly disagree with this statement, as I firmly believe that both the school and the family have to bear the responsibility of shaping the youth of today. By 'shaping', we refer to the moulding and development of a youth's character, values, behaviour thought, and perceptions - all of which are determined by the people that the youth comes into contact, and remains in contact with. Of course, this would encompass other factors like the wider environment and society. But in this essay, I will only focus on the responsibilities of both the school and the family, as in my opinion, these are the basic moulding influences and are thus highly significant.

The school is where the youth spends most of his waking hours, and thus exerts a large influence since it houses his peers and teachers as well. Peer influences have long been recognised as highly significant. Being of similar age, peers would thus share similar ideals and perceptions, and hence have a strong effect on the youth, especially in the adolescent years. Thus, if the youth hangs out with materialistic friends in school, he is likely to adopt their values in order to be accepted as an equal, and would thus be led to purchasing ridiculously high-priced branded goods, in the pursuit of acceptance. Similarly, if he has friends who are hardworking and responsible, his development would then incline in that direction.

Likewise, teachers may be taken as role models by the youth, especially in his formative years. I, for example, have been greatly influenced by a brilliant teacher in my primary school. This teacher taught me determination, courage and self-confidence, all of which I have faithfully learnt and practised. Thus, the invisible hand of teachers in the moulding process of a youth is definitely not to be ignored.

However, despite such significant contributions of the school to the shaping of a youth, the family still remains the basic influence. It has the advantage of having immediate contact with the youth from the day he is born. As an innocent child, he would instinctively hold the parents as role models, even adopting their mannerisms and attitudes as his own, since he knows little else.

Likewise, the family circumstances can contribute to the moulding process, since as mentioned, it is basically what the child comes into contact with that shapes his perceptions. If a youth comes from a broken home, or one where there is physical abuse, it would tend to have a negative effect on his development, as no doubt he would become more insecure and undisciplined.

Similarly, the financial status of the family can have a strong influence. Youths from low income homes may have extremely hardworking parents who strive to provide their child with the best, and thus, the youth is highly motivated to emulate their behaviour and perhaps, the gratitude he feels for his parents would propel him to even greater heights. For example, it has been found that many students who perform exceptionally well at school, have come from low income households, and it is this poverty which makes them strive for greater achievement.

In contrast, many who come from wealthy homes tend to be pampered and molly-coddled from young, and thus, tend to be more dependent on others and lack initiative, since they were born with the proverbial silver spoon in their mouths.

Hence, we see how important both the school and the family are to the development of a youth. Though they contribute in different ways, both have the same goal and effect of helping the youth focus his life, and strive to be the best that he can be.