Parents are the best teachers.

　　Do you agree or disagree with the following statement?

　　Model Answer 1:

　　Parents shape their children from the beginning of their children's lives.   They teach their children values. They share their interests with them. They   develop close emotional ties with them. Parents can be very important teachers   in their children's lives; however, they are not always the best teachers.

　　Parents may be too close to their children emotionally. For example, they   may limit a child's freedom in the name of safety. A teacher may organize an   educational trip to a big city, but a parent may think this trip is too   dangerous. A school may want to take the children camping, but a parent may be   afraid of the child getting hurt.

　　Another problem is that parents sometimes expect their children's interests   to be similar to their own. If the parents love science, they may try to force   their child to love science too. But what if the child prefers art? If the   parents enjoy sports, they may expect their child to participate on different   teams. But what if the child prefers to read?

　　Parents want to pass on their values to their children. However, things   change. The children of today are growing up in a world different from their   parents' world. Sometimes parents, especially older ones, can't keep up with   rapid social or technological changes. A student who has friends of different   races at school may find that his parents have narrower views. A student who   loves computers may find that her parents don't understand or value the digital   revolution.

　　Parents are important teachers in our lives, but they aren't always the   best teachers. Fortunately, we have many teachers in our lives. Our parents   teach us, our teachers teach us, and we learn from our peers. Books and   newspapers also teach us. All of them are valuable.

　　Model Answer 2:

　　Throughout my life, I have been lucky enough to have a very good   relationship with my parents. They have supported me, given me necessary   criticism, and taught me a great deal about how to live my life. Parents can be   very important teachers in our lives; however, they are not always the best   teachers.

　　Parents may be too close to their children emotionally. Sometimes they can   only see their children though the eyes of a protector. For example, they may   limit a child’s freedom in the name of safety. A teacher might see a trip to a   big city as a valuable new experience. However, it might seem too dangerous to a   parent.

　　Another problem is that parents may expect their children’s interests to be   similar to their own. They can’t seem to separate from their children in their   mind. If they love science, they may try to force their child to love science   too. But what if their child’s true love is art, or writing, or car repair?

　　Parents are usually eager to pass on their value to their children. But   should children always believe what their parents do? Maybe different   generations need different ways of thinking. When children are young, they   believe that their parents are always rights. But when they get older, they   realize there are other views. Sometimes parents, especially older ones, can’t   keep up with rapid social or technology changes. A student who has friends of   all different races and backgrounds at school may find that her parents don’t   really understand or value the digital revolution. Sometimes kids have to find   their own ways to what they believe in.

　　The most important thing to realize is that we all have many teachers in   our lives. Our parents teach us, our teachers teach us, and our peers teach us.   Books and newspapers and television also teach us. All of them are valuable.