The long-term impact of cram schools on students’ health has been a heated debate in these days. While a certain number of people claim that parents sending their children to extra classes intended for cramming can bring about merits in children’s performances, it is also opposed by others who believe that children should be allowed to have some spare time after finishing their regular school hours. As far as I am concerned, it is my contention that spare time is needed for children so that learning would not pose a threat to their mental health.
On one hand, it is widely accepted that cramming courses are efficient for academic endeavors. This is because such courses are designed to achieve maximum scores needed within a short range of time. As a consequence of this, most parents are convinced that their children would pass exams with flying colors, securing the entrance to well-recognized universities. The popularity of cram schools in China and Korea, where education is a highly competitive field, sets a good example of this phenomenon.
However, it is my belief that cram schools replacing children’s free time has more damaging impacts than a promising future. Children should be given time to occupy themselves, so that they would become well-adjusted individuals by having sufficient time to engage in their hobbies or spend time with their families at home. If this essential development was not acknowledged, these budding generations are on the verge of suffering from mental exhaustion from a young age. For instance, younger populations in Korea are prone to committing suicide due to excessive studying of nearly 20 hours.
To conclude, while there may be some valid reasons for parents enrolling their children in cram schools, I strongly believe that potential effects on children’s mental well-being should be prioritized. After all, children should experience the joy of school life without being traumatized by learning