That children are of an impressionable age is indisputable, but which period has the greatest influence on their later life is still unclear, sparking numerous debates. This essay seeks to analyze both sides of the argument and present the author’s view that the experiences during school age are more likely to shape the personality and mindset of children.
On the one hand, it is understandable why a part of society believe that children are most likely to be affected by their time before school, because these are their formative years, during which they first interact with the world, so whatever they learn will become ingrained in their mind and difficult to change. At this point, they are analogous to blank sheets of paper waiting to be written on, and the contents will be nearly indelible afterwards. For example, readjusting the mindset of a child who believes that violence is the only solution to every life problem due to early exposure to belligerence is almost an insurmountable task. However, it is noteworthy that the skewed perceptions of most individuals at school age, if they exist, are not that extreme, and by extension, the attempt to correct them should not be such an impossible task.
On the other hand, the importance of education in improving citizens is the exact reason why governments all over the world invest so heavily in it. If teenagers did not learn and grow from their years at school, education would not still be held in such high regards as it is today. This that experiences at school play a major role in the development of the youth, teaching them valuable skills, including the faculty to separate right from wrong, which they can then use to judge the life lessons they learn from life prior to that time again, and refrain from any which is malicious.
In conclusion, even though children are more susceptible during their infancy and preschool age, I believe that the experiences at school leave a greater impact upon them because they give them the judgement ability.