In the era of prosperity, many people argue that the key purpose of educational institutions is to turn children into delicate citizens and white collar workers, rather than to impact positively on them as individuals. Personally, I totally accede to this viewpoint.
To begin with, schools, being the mainstay of the educational industry, are tasked with cultivating well-behaved and well-informed population. As a consequence, they have to equip their students with relevant knowledge, ability and skills to thrive in the career path. In addition, since students spend their first formative years on campus, educators should help them learn how to tell right from wrong, perceive and interact with the outside world properly. Moreover, they are to ensure training proper to enable their students to succeed in the foreseeable future. One more point, they not only help children satisfy their needs, but also provide adequate manpower in the midst of economic growth. How students integrate into and communicate with the society they’re living in right now is clear evidence of schools’ success.
In contrast, benefiting students as individuals can’t be the primary function of schools. To explain this, an individualistic approach doesn’t serve, if not distorts, the education orientation of schools. Important emphasis on individuals’ needs can color education, turning the sacred work into a commercial commodity where students buy for their personal use and schools sell for profit. In those cases, schools would fail to realise the initial educational mission.
In conclusion, the priority of schools should turn individuals into good students and workers in today’s world instead of responding to students’ requisition since it can make a harmonious and effective society.