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There is some disagreement over whether or not classmates have more influence than parents do on a child’s success in school. Some people believe that parents are the most influential factor in a child’s academic success as they can best assist their children. My view, however, is that classmates have more influential than parents do on academic success of a child in school. This is largely because classmates motivate students to study harder. Moreover, classmates are able to provide better help one another.
To begin with, classmates motivate their fellow peers. It is no secret that competition can be a powerful source of motivation. It is common for students to compete for grades, scholarships and rewards. According to a study conducted by a team of researchers at Harvard University, students put in more efforts when placed in a competitive environment and the strongest motivation comes from peers. The study also reveals that this correlation gets even stronger as they enter adolescence. Therefore classmates are influential on their academic success in school because they can motivate each other.
Furthermore, classmates can provide more practical help each other. In many cases, parents are not knowledgeable on subjects that their children are studying in school but classmates are better able to help each other with the materials which they studied together in class. Not only that, but they can form a study group where they can discuss problems and solve together as well as share their studying strategies. For example, I used to ask my father to help with my math questions but he found them quite difficult to solve, which made very stressful for both of us. Eventually, I had to ask my mathematical- gifted friend for assistance. It worked very well. Had it not been for her help, I would have had a harder time in my math class. Therefore, classmates are able to provide more practical help than parents do.
To sum up, classmates are more influential factor in a child’s success in school than parents do on the grounds that they can motivate each other and they can provide practical help with the subjects that they are studying in school. Of course, parents are influential factor in a academic success of their child but it cannot exceed the importance of classmates in school. Therefore, classmates are the most influential factor in a child’s success in school.