▶ Your Answer :
Undoubtedly, teachers have a great impact
on students in their lives. Some people think that teachers should not give their
students their views on social and political issues in class, while others think
it is okay for them to do so. Each side may have their own reasons to support
their view. If I had to choose one, I would say that students get benefits by
listening to their teachers’ opinions on social and political issues. There are
several reasons and examples as follows.
First, students can broaden their
perspectives and establish their own view on social and political agenda by
being exposed to their teachers’ own opinions. Generally, teachers have
received a high level of education and training and have a deeper
understandings on those issues. On the other hand, students are not likely to
have a strong opinion because they do not have lots of life experiences. The
function of school is not only to study subjects such as math and English, but
also widen their general understanding about the world. Therefore, listening to
various people’s opinions, particularly someone who has a mature perspective and
deep understanding can help students to establish their own perspectives. For instance,
when I was in high school, most of the teachers were highly interested in
social and political problems. They used to give me their own opinions about
the current issues at that time when there was some spare time. Some of them
had liberal opinions whereas others had conservative ones. Personally I really
enjoyed these talks because I could listen to various thoughts about same
agenda and learn from them. Furthermore, it enabled me to see the phenomenon
from a balanced point of view and establish my own perspective in the end. Now,
when I hear about news about certain issues, I can speak up on behalf of my own
belief and I can stay alert when mass media or journals try to brainwash people.
If I were not exposed to diverse opinions from young age, I would not have been
able to broaden my view and have my own belief.
All things considered, the advantages that
students can get by listening to teachers’ opinions on political and social
agenda far outweigh those of not being exposed to them at all. In this regard,
the importance of teachers’ role in educating students to become a cultivated adult
cannot be overestimated.
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