Discuss both views and give your opinions.
It is suggested that international news studies should be a part of the secondary school curriculum; however, some consider it an inefficient use of young people’s time at school. Even though studying international news seems unnecessary for secondary school students in some regards, I believe it is largely beneficial to them.
On the one hand, studying international news at secondary school can be rebutted in two ways. First of all, there is a question of relevance. Events happening globally, on the whole, have virtually no bearing in young people’s lives, nor do they hold a particular intrigue for them. For instance, knowledge of the latest US presidential campaigns or trade agreements between Russia and China not only does not have much application for teenagers, but also pales in comparison to more interesting subjects such as social media marketing and technology world. It could also be argued that the complexity of interpreting international news can be a limiting factor as it requires the understanding of various subjects such as economics, politics, and history.
I, on the other hand, support the view international news should be incorporated into the secondary school curriculum. The chief reason is because it helps youngsters develop a well-rounded view of the world. Having learned about global events and trends, secondary school students can gain thorough insights into how the world works. In other words, international news ranging from international treaties to global conflicts teaches them essential concepts about what makes countries thrive or fail, which helps shape their understanding of the world. Studying international news can, in a sense, also equip youngsters with important skills such as critical and analytical thinking seeing as understanding global events compels them to interpret information from different angles.
In conclusion, while lack of relevance and sophistication of international news might deter teaching of international news in secondary schools, I consider this subject to be useful since it can enhance young people’s worldview as well as their critical and analytical skills.