“Some experts maintain that students learn best in a highly structured environment, one that emphasizes discipline,
punctuality, and routine. Others insist that educators, if they are to help students maximize their potential, ought to
maintain an atmosphere of relative freedom and spontaneity.”
Explain your position on the issue of structure versus freedom in an ideal learning environment. Support your views with
reasons and/or examples from your own experience, observations, or reading.
The issue of whether a disciplined environment is better for a student or a relatively free atmosphere is a controversial one. On the one hand a disciplined environment inculcates a sense of punctuality and discipline, which are essential for learning, in a student. On the other hand, a relatively free environment is essential for rational thinking and personality development. However in the final analysis of this issue I believe that a disciplined atmosphere is a better approach than an atmosphere of relative freedom.
The chief reason of my view is that no learning is possible without discipline. Discipline inculcates a sense of responsibility in students, streamlines the learning process. The learning could be academic, physical or spiritual. Even in the ancient times, students were required to follow a well disciplined approach for learning. Be it the Student life in case of Aryans where a student was kept in a strict environment in the school or the ancient classes where student were taught different sciences like martial arts, astrology etc., the discipline was the key factor. Discipline helps in controlling the mind which in turn leads to a more focused and concentrated approach in learning.
The other reason for my view is that in order to bring out the best from a student, discipline is necessary. A student, if left free without any routine, will rarely decide to work hard. It is human nature to follow the easy path most of the times. Whereas, when kept in discipline and made to follow a structured approach, the student will eventually become more comfortable in learning and that too with a more focused approach. The best example for this is the training for gymnasts. An average gymnast starts its training by the age of 5. It is the discipline and routine followed by t hem that pushes their body to the natural limit. In no case a child of age 5, if left free, will tend to push so hard.
The supporters of the approach of freedom and spontaneity might argue that it promotes rational thinking and maximize the potential of students. It could be true to some extent but to achieve the maximum benefits out of rational thinking, a disciplined approach is required. Further, a disciplined approach makes it mandatory for students to take courses which one might find boring but which are essential for development like math’s, and hence promotes overall development.
In sum, I can concur that although a free environment aids in maximizing potential, disciplined environment is necessary for learning
punctuality, and routine. Others insist that educators, if they are to help students maximize their potential, ought to
maintain an atmosphere of relative freedom and spontaneity.”
Explain your position on the issue of structure versus freedom in an ideal learning environment. Support your views with
reasons and/or examples from your own experience, observations, or reading.
The issue of whether a disciplined environment is better for a student or a relatively free atmosphere is a controversial one. On the one hand a disciplined environment inculcates a sense of punctuality and discipline, which are essential for learning, in a student. On the other hand, a relatively free environment is essential for rational thinking and personality development. However in the final analysis of this issue I believe that a disciplined atmosphere is a better approach than an atmosphere of relative freedom.
The chief reason of my view is that no learning is possible without discipline. Discipline inculcates a sense of responsibility in students, streamlines the learning process. The learning could be academic, physical or spiritual. Even in the ancient times, students were required to follow a well disciplined approach for learning. Be it the Student life in case of Aryans where a student was kept in a strict environment in the school or the ancient classes where student were taught different sciences like martial arts, astrology etc., the discipline was the key factor. Discipline helps in controlling the mind which in turn leads to a more focused and concentrated approach in learning.
The other reason for my view is that in order to bring out the best from a student, discipline is necessary. A student, if left free without any routine, will rarely decide to work hard. It is human nature to follow the easy path most of the times. Whereas, when kept in discipline and made to follow a structured approach, the student will eventually become more comfortable in learning and that too with a more focused approach. The best example for this is the training for gymnasts. An average gymnast starts its training by the age of 5. It is the discipline and routine followed by t hem that pushes their body to the natural limit. In no case a child of age 5, if left free, will tend to push so hard.
The supporters of the approach of freedom and spontaneity might argue that it promotes rational thinking and maximize the potential of students. It could be true to some extent but to achieve the maximum benefits out of rational thinking, a disciplined approach is required. Further, a disciplined approach makes it mandatory for students to take courses which one might find boring but which are essential for development like math’s, and hence promotes overall development.
In sum, I can concur that although a free environment aids in maximizing potential, disciplined environment is necessary for learning
