Youth Archives — Gp Lah!

Children today have forgotten how to play. Assess this statement.

I. Introduction

Hook: In an age dominated by screens and structured routines, the nature of childhood play is undergoing significant transformation.
Background: Brief overview of the importance of play in child development and how it has changed over the years.
Thesis Statement: Although modern technology and structured schedules have altered traditional play, children today still engage in play through digital platforms and organised activities, suggesting that play has evolved rather than disappeared.

II. Supporting View 1: Impact of Technology

Topic Sentence: The pervasive presence of technology has significantly reduced traditional forms of play among children.
Example 1: In the United Kingdom, a study by the Royal Society for Public Health found that children spend an average of 3-4 hours daily on screens, limiting time for physical play.
Example 2: In Japan, concerns over increased screen time have led to initiatives promoting outdoor activities, such as the “Play, Play, Play Campaign” aimed at reducing children’s screen dependency.
Analysis: Discuss how these examples demonstrate the shift from physical to digital play, suggesting that traditional forms of play are being neglected.

III. Supporting View 2: Structured Schedules

Topic Sentence: Children’s lives today are often overly structured, leaving little room for spontaneous play.
Example 1: In South Korea, the highly competitive education system results in children attending after-school academies, reducing their free time for unstructured play.
Example 2: In China, the “Tiger Parenting” approach emphasizes academic and extracurricular achievement, further restricting time for leisurely play.
Analysis: Examine how these cultural practices and educational pressures contribute to a decline in free, spontaneous play among children.

IV. Opposing View 1: Evolution of Play

Topic Sentence: Despite changes, children today still engage in forms of play, albeit in different ways.
Example 1: In Finland, the educational system incorporates “Lego Serious Play” in classrooms to blend learning with creative play, highlighting an innovative approach to play.
Example 2: The popularity of online games and virtual worlds in Europe, such as Minecraft and Roblox, where children build, explore, and interact, showing that digital play can be creative and social.
Example 3: In Australia, the rise of adventure playgrounds designed to encourage risk-taking and imaginative play, reflecting an adaptation to modern play preferences.
Analysis: Discuss how these examples illustrate that play is not forgotten but has adapted to contemporary contexts and technologies.

V. Opposing View 2: Organised Play and Activities

Topic Sentence: Structured and organised activities still provide valuable play experiences for children.
Example 1: In Italy, after-school sports clubs and arts programmes offer children opportunities for play and social interaction within a structured setting.
Example 2: In the Netherlands, the “Brede School” initiative integrates play and learning through community-based extracurricular activities, supporting holistic development.
Analysis: Explore how these organised activities maintain the essence of play while fitting into modern schedules, ensuring children still benefit from play experiences.

VI. Conclusion

Restate Thesis: While technology and structured schedules have transformed traditional play, children today continue to engage in play through digital platforms and organised activities, indicating that play has evolved rather than been forgotten.
Summary of Key Points: Recap the main supporting and opposing views discussed.
Final Thought: Emphasise the importance of recognising and supporting diverse forms of play in modern childhood to ensure well-rounded development and happiness.

‘A university education is becoming increasingly irrelevant to success.’ Discuss.

Success in today’s world greatly hinges on how outstanding a person is in his career. A few decades ago, university graduates were almost guaranteed a good job with a good measure of success. However, that is becoming increasingly untrue for society today. While university students are armed with much knowledge which is supposed to empower them, the increasing speed at which the world is moving is making university education increasingly irrelevant to success. The reality is that university education is becoming too common, too limited and how information learnt is irrelevant.

Our society is creating more new knowledge and technology than it can be learnt, causing university education to be outdated, rendering it irrelevant. The intention of studying at a university for an individual is so that he can be equipped with specialized skills needed to be competitive in the industry, and thereby achieving success. However, the turnover of information and technology in universities is not able to keep up with the world. Take for example the biotechnology industry where new discoveries are being made on a weekly or even daily basis. It is impossible for university education to remain relevant to a student’s success through the education provided.

Some may argue that though universities are not able to keep up, universities conduct projects for students to know more about the latest information, and also that this fast turnover of information does not have much effect, not in the field of science. However, a point to note is that most students, in order to do well, gather information from past students and add on to it so slightly. Hence, can it be said that their information is up-to-date, considering their desire to do well exceeds their desire for learning? Also, with regards to students not in the field of science, these students, they learn mainly from experiences of what happens in the real world. As the world moves faster, more things happen as well, the world is changing fast, and university education cannot keep up with it. Hence, university education is fast becoming increasingly irrelevant due to the fast-changing tides of our world today. University education is no longer a passport to success because it is becoming increasingly common. In the past, university graduates could easily get a job because they were the cream of their crop in their society back then.

However, degree holders are widely available for employers to take a pick from in modern society. This can be seen from graduates who end up as hawkers in the food court, and the number of unemployed graduates out there. It can be argued that university education is still relevant to success even though it is common because as graduates become more common, so do jobs requiring their skills to become available to them compared to old times. However, when one speaks of success, it goes beyond having a job but being distinguished as an individual apart from other people. With university education being so common, our competitors will very well end up as another university graduate, which makes university education irrelevant since graduates do not stand out. Furthermore, university education does not prepare students adequately for the world out there enough for them to wield success in their hands.

The world is shrinking, our economy is no longer confined to our region but going global. University education is unable to equip people enough to deal with people of different cultures and perspectives in the world out there, which is imperative to success. This is not something that can be imparted and remain relevant to university education due to a lack of time. This is evident from how university students in order to adapt have to take up cultural classes in order to survive. Indeed, it is true that learning is a life – long process, it is just right that graduates should equip themselves better by learning more, and does not make university education irrelevant to success. However, if it is so, university education does not play a part in success anymore, because anyone and everyone can take up such classes so as to survive, even without a degree. Hence due to globalization, university education is becoming increasingly lacking in providing social skills with regard to different cultures for students to thrive, hence making university education irrelevant to success.

Also, our world is becoming a world where people thrive because of innovation and abilities apart from those acquired from academic discourse. University education imparts the best that they know how for graduates to survive. However, in today’s world, a degree is no longer a benchmark of capability. In our world today, capabilities need to be proven first before it can be recognized and used for success, and such capabilities do not require a university education. In today’s world, we are seeing an increasing number of people without a university degree being successful because of their innovations and talents. An example would be the proud owners of Creative technology, and Breadtalk, where they did not get much of an education but made it big. The case is clear that university education is irrelevant today.

“The elderly fulfil a vital and indispensable function in society.” Do you agree?

The role of an elderly has been of prime importance since ancient times. People have depended upon elders for advice and instructions. Changing family structure, scientific progress and demographic projections, have brought about a change in attitude towards the aged population of all countries. Unfortunately, the elderly population today is being treated as a burden by the younger generation. However, this attitude is fallacious as the elders can still play a prominent role in society. The role of the elderly in nations progress has great importance as their experience and wisdom pave the path for the younger generation to move efficiently towards their goals. Thus, it is true that the elderly fulfil a vital and indispensable function in society.

The young generation is supposed to be the wealth of any nation; and, the elderly add value to this wealth. Senior citizens accumulate a wealth of wisdom through their experiences. These experiences can be used to teach the young generation about the fine line between right and wrong. The elderly through their anecdotes can help the young people develop values and ideals that could prove beneficial for them. It is often seen that children who grow up in the company of their grandparents are more sympathetic, kind, generous and supportive. Sharing of thoughts develops a sense of togetherness and alienates gloom. The veterans in the family can kindle virtues and restrain vice through amicable guardianship.

Detractors would insist that in today’s world children are growing up surrounded by a different set of challenges. The philosophies of the elderly belong to a different time period and are outdated and irrelevant in the modern context. In the materialistic world of mechanical prevalence, youth would rather prefer to be speedy and smart than slow and steady.

However, truth is never outdated and technology cannot replace human influence. Despite the intervention of eLearning, the role of a teacher is still irreplaceable; so is the role of the elderly. As time is moving fast and the new generation is in a hurry to achieve the goals of life, it becomes all the more important that they be in contact with the elders who can prevent them from tumbling into erroneous pitfalls of modernity.

The elderly can contribute to nations development as zealously as the young and perhaps more. Growing in age does not hamper abilities, in fact it enhances them. Physical weakness and cognitive deterioration are possible but that does not categorize the old people as completely unproductive and useless. The judges in the judiciary, senior professors, scientists, and such people in all fields are working efficiently despite their age. The world has innumerable examples of the aged and even disabled aged individuals making their contributions to the world at large. The anti-Apartheid activist and former South African president Nelson Mandela announced the formation of an international group, The Elders when he was eighty-seven years old. This organisation works for solving the most challenging problems of the world like-HIV AIDS, poverty and climate change and has the support of Kofi Anan, Jimmy Carter, Mary Robinson, Desmond Tutu and many more social activists and veterans. Famous writers, authors, artists, musicians have added to the aesthetic and artistic creations of the world even in the twilight years of their life. John Milton, after spending his youthful days as political pamphleteer created his masterpieces Paradise Lost and Paradise Regained in later years and after having impaired his vision.

Those that hold opposing views suggest that ageing is inevitably linked to senility. Advancement in science and medical facilities can protect the elderly from mortal chronic diseases, but most of the time they survive with some sort of impairment that makes long term care mandatory. As the dependency ratio, is showing an increased percentage in near future, the elders will only add to the social, financial and moral burden- the young will feel the guilt of not being able to take proper care of the elders- on the young. Lacking not merely in strength but also in standard education, old people cannot actively participate in progressive productivity. The brilliant spark of creativity is found only in a few, while the majority grope about in awful helplessness.

It would be myopic to disregard the fact that medical advancements and improvements in healthcare are keeping the elderly hale and hearty. Elderly today not only survive; they also remain fit and active by indulging in activities like exercise, dance and even swimming. Increased life expectancy and better health are resources that societies should utilize for enhancing productivity as well as strengthening the workforce. The elderly population today is ever ready to compromise and, in many companies, there are aged people who have much younger bosses. The need is to treat the senior citizens with regard and capitalize on their wisdom rather than seclude them as unproductive or a cumbersome load.

The future of the Earth is safe under the prudent care of the baby boomers and the generation X population. Thus, it can well be concluded that the greying lot of citizens fulfil a vital and indispensable function in society.

How far do you agree that having children is just another lifestyle choice?

The world today is facing an appreciable drop in global population due to declining birth rates. This growing phenomenon is here to stay as long as mankind continues to exist and remain indifferent towards having children. Increasingly, not having children has become a lifestyle choice for those in the first world.

Decades ago, traditional couples believed that having children is necessary so as to continue the family line. Others also saw the need to have children as they believed that they would be well taken care of in their old age. This mentality has led many families, especially those in rural areas or developing countries, to ensure that they have many children. The situation is different now. With financial independence, many couples believe that they can achieve their bucket-list faster if they remained a pair and avoided a 20-year commitment to raise children, or the prospect of doctor visits or paying for an education loan. Many see being childless as a worry-free life.

Women who do not have kids, tend to understand motherhood as all-encompassing and overwhelming responsibility—one that might interfere with their next promotion. The choice to be childfree gave women the freedom to work and men freedom from work. Research has shown that childless women end up just as satisfied with their lives in the end. The challenges of today’s world is far different from the past. As such, many prospective parents feel that they may not have the skills and ability to raise children. There is a general fear of not being mentally or emotionally equipped for parenthood.

People who have grown up in a confused or very liberal environment are also choosing not to have children. These groups opine that the best thing about being childfree is not having to think about anyone else in terms of choices that are made. Ultimately, the freedom to choose, one way or the other, is something we should celebrate. But just how free that choice actually is, when much of society still expects women to choose to be mothers, is something worth considering.

A growing contingent of young people are refusing to have kids — or are considering having fewer kids — because of climate change. The growing antinatalist movement is another factor that correlates with lifestyle choice. This philosophical movement based around the tenet that it is cruel to bring sentient lives, doomed to suffer into the world that is already suffering. They feel that people who have children by celebrating childbearing without acknowledging the consequences for themselves and the planet are doing injustice towards their progeny.

In conclusion, while some couples embrace having children, others view it as part of enhancing their lives or the lives of their loved ones. Reasons for having children have undoubtedly changed over the years, as people now do not only have children for the sake of completing their family portrait.

Rivalry brings out the best in one. Discuss.

Rivalry is a part of life which everyone experiences at one point or the other. Rivalry has the potential to bring out the best and worst in people. Rivalry leads people to compete and encourages them to be better than their rivals. On the other hand, rivalry can lead to tunnel vision and can also lead to unethical behaviour. Therefore, rivalry brings out the best in people in terms of competition and development but it also has the potential to bring out the worst in them through traits like selfishness and violence.

Rivalry with peers leads to increased competition and the determination to improve. Rivalry brings out the best in people as they strive to improve. For example, the competitive structure of education keeps students motivated to indulge in healthy competition with peers to score better and strive for better grades. Similarly, rivalry can also lead people to be motivated and try to be better at school. Healthy rivalry keeps a sense of enthusiasm among people to prove their skills against the best talent. Therefore, the rivalry has the potential to bring out the best in people as it motivates them to improve.

However, rivalry also has a flip side. Rivalry pressures people to do best and can be a cause of stress. Rivalry, when taken too seriously, can take a toll on people’s health. For example, unhealthy competition creates stress and affects job performance and motivation of employees. Rivalry can also bring out negative emotions like jealousy that can lead people to take extreme steps. For example, in 2018, An Indian bank executive was killed by his colleague over professional rivalry because he received more promotions. It can be seen that in some cases rivalry makes life more difficult and lead to issues like anxiety, worry, and self-doubt. Therefore, rivalry brings out the worst in people by impacting them psychologically.

Rivalries can also bring out the worst in people as they develop a tunnel vision. When two individuals or groups are in constant rivalry with each other they might ignore other threats that can hinder their progress. For example, beverage giants Coke and Pepsi were so much in competition with each other that they missed the emergence of increasingly popular energy and health drink brands like Dr Pepper and Red Bull. Both these brands measured their success based on how they stacked up against each other. This also led to a preoccupation that they ignored other competitive threats. Therefore, rivalry can bring out the worst in people as it leads to unnecessary tussle and tunnel vision.

Rivalry brings out the worst in people because it can lead to unethical behaviour. Sometimes rivalry can blind a person completely. This may lead to people to go to the extent of using dirty tactics to reach our goal. For instance, Luis Suarez a footballer has been known to use dirty tactics like diving, biting, stamping to distract his opponents and win at any cost. Apart from that, there have been multiple incidents where athletes have chosen dirty tactics to win against opponents. For example, in boxing or even tennis, players are known to weaken the opponent’s concentration by insulting or verbally intimidating them This extreme rivalry can bring out the worst in people where they forget ethical behaviour because they want to win at any cost.

In conclusion, rivalry can bring out the best in people by being an effective motivator for achievement, effort and performance. However, extreme rivalries can only be detrimental to the well-being of an individual as it can lead to unethical behaviour. Therefore, rivalry should be encouraged only to a certain extent. Rivalry if unchecked can lead to negative behaviour which could lead to the destruction of the human race.

Public figures have to behave well at all times. Do you agree?

The 24×7 media today has placed public figures and celebrities constantly in the public eye. Their every move and action is scrutinized and analysed. This constant analysis of their life has a huge impact on the people who follow and sometimes worship them. Thus, it is fair to say that public figures should behave well most of the time as their actions have the power to influence people particularly when sections of the public look up to them as role models.

Public figures have to behave responsibly because they are accountable for the reputation of the body they represent. In political scenarios, this is extremely true because any misconduct can lead to public distrusting the political party. For example, in the United States, Senator Al Franken had to resign when several women accused him of behaving inappropriately with them. After the allegations surfaced, more than two dozen Democratic senators called on Franken to resign. Similarly, United States politician, Tim Murphy, an outspoken opponent of abortion was revealed to have strongly encouraged his mistress to get an abortion when she became pregnant. This accusation led him to resign from the party he was representing. These examples illustrate how inappropriate behaviour even in private lives can wreak havoc on their credibility and integrity. Public figures should not forget that their actions can have severe consequences as even a small detail can become big news. Thus, it is true that public figures should behave well all the time as their mistakes can damage the reputation of a political party and raise questions about their credibility.

Public figures also need to behave well all the time as they need to develop mutual trust. Successful public figures in the public eye need to build an image that shows they support family values. For example, the duke and duchess of Cambridge are always seen together with their kids. Many believe that the family is the picture of perfection, always upholding royal standards where even their kids have likely never been photographed crying. Despite being royals, their down to earth nature has made them famous among the commoners. On the same note, Leonardo DiCaprio has gained a huge fan following because of his image as a celebrity who takes care of the environment and animals. Even at the Oscars, DiCaprio chose to talk about environmental issues and won the hearts of millions. These examples illustrate how society expects public figures to be worthy and standing for all the right issues. Thus, public figures need to behave well all the time because they need to gain the trust of millions.

Public figures are looked up to by followers as role models and they need to behave well to set a good example. Public figures have a huge influence on people’s behaviour. Many look up to sportspersons, singers and actors as role models and emulate their behaviour. In such a case it is a moral duty of public figures to behave in an appropriate manner all the time so that they can have a positive impact on society. Singer Lorde, for instance, called out a Photoshopped image of herself on Twitter. With the image, she tweeted that it is important to remember that flaws are okay. Through this tweet, she influenced the body-image discussion for the better and promoted body positivity. On the other hand, celebrities like Kim Kardashian have faced severe backlash for selling and promoting products like, Appetite Suppressant Lollipops and have been accused of being a ‘toxic influence’ on youngsters who are impressionable and face the constant pressure of looking a certain way. Public figures need to realise that they have a responsibility towards society, as their followers would want to dress, act, be like them. Therefore, it is necessary for public figures to behave well all the time because they can influence the behaviour and actions of people in society.

In conclusion, it can be said that celebrities should behave well most of the time because their behaviour can have positive and negative impacts. Public figures who seek the benefits of fame must be able to take the downside of public interrogation. Public figures hold huge power and thus are accountable for their behaviour which can negatively influence people around them and society at large. To say a celebrity is not responsible for his or her actions is saying that as human beings, our lives aren’t all somehow connected.

Category: Youth