Writing Academic Task 2 Band 9.0 Example

The issue of whether parents or schools bear the primary responsibility for teaching children how to be responsible members of society has garnered significant debate. While some advocate for the role of educational institutions in this formative process, others assert that parental guidance is paramount. Although the school environment can certainly provide valuable educational experiences, it cannot replace the influence of parents, who shape a child’s values from the earliest years. At home, children learn through daily examples: how adults treat others, respond to disagreement and fulfil obligations. This consistent modelling can help them develop empathy, respect and a sense of responsibility. Parents also know their children well and can address individual behaviour directly, making guidance relevant to real situations rather than abstract rules.

Schools, however, offer important advantages of their own. They bring together children from different backgrounds, giving students regular opportunities to cooperate, resolve conflicts and respect perspectives unlike their own. Teachers can also explain ideas such as fairness, civic responsibility and the consequences of harmful behaviour in a structured way. Moreover, school rules require pupils to practise responsibility beyond the family setting, for example by working collaboratively and respecting shared expectations.

In my view, both parties have a significant role, but parents should bear primary responsibility. Children usually encounter their family’s influence earlier and more continuously than a school’s, so parents establish the foundation on which formal education can build. This does not diminish the school’s contribution: effective cooperation between families and teachers can reinforce consistent standards and help children apply good conduct in different settings. Ultimately, schools are indispensable partners, but parents are best placed to provide the first and most enduring lessons in responsible citizenship.