Vera's homework

Topic: Career advice for children aged 7-11.


Introduction

—— Children aged 7-11 are to be offered career guidance under a government scheme in England. And career advice will be continued to the aged of 18.

—— Aims of the programme are for children from deprived backgrounds to expend their horizons and raise their aspirations.

—— Argument: Receiving career advice from early age — positive or negative?

—— Signpost: This essay will discuss both positive and negative side of the argument (prepare for future or being set up) and then it will give a conclusion on this argument.



Positive

—— Easier for children to choose subjects in secondary school ;


Giving children career advice earlier can help them to find out what area they are interested in and make better decisions when they start secondary school at 14.

—— Broaden children's mind and spot their talent;

Online career advice and a mentoring scheme will be provided on Internet social working websites like Facebook and YouTube. This can help children to learn more about what situation they are in, how many choices they have and to find out which fields they are good at.

—— Let children be prepared for future career and nurture them to achieve the best they can.


Research shows that three quarters of 11-year-olds want go to university, but underprivileged children always fall short of their ambitions. This scheme can help those children find a way to be better prepared for their future career.


Negative

—— Parents get involved and try to let children chose careers which they think are the best for their children;

All the Parents have great expectation for their children, they want them to be successful and some parents want their children to achieve things that they haven't been able to achieve when they are young.

—— Could stifle the imagination of young children and narrow their options too early.

Young children change their mind easily. Receiving career advice at this age may stop children from thinking by themselves and follow the guide given by mentors.


Summary

In conclusion, it's important that children start to prepare for future career earlier. It helps young children find their passion and do their best to achieve their goals. The department emphasizes that the programme is not about helping children decide what job they want to do, but showing them what they can fulfill by using their potential. And the scheme can also help disadvantaged and disabled children accessing working experience and get a careers mentor.


Opposition

On the other hand, career advice from parents and mentors could narrow their mind. A lot of parents want their children to be doctors, managers, lawyers, etc. Because they think these are the golden jobs that can make their children successful and give them a comfortable life. So they make the decision for their children and try to raise them that way. Unfortunately, most children grow up exactly the opposit of their parents expected them to be. Though the career advice given by metors must be professionnal, it makes children believe whatever the teachers suggest must be better than the dicisions made by themselves. Then they may give up what they really like and end up with wasting their talent in other areas.


Reference: http://www.thesislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23760520-careers-advice-for-seven-year-olds.do