Are We too Soft with our Children?

 

Many people today argue that half the problems with the young go back to their early years. Some say their parents and schoolteachers have been too soft, others that they've been too hard. What do you think?

1. Schools should make pupils wear / to wear uniform.

2. Parents should force their children take / to take regular exer­cise. 3. Young girls shouldn't be allowed wear / to wear make up. 4. Teachers shouldn't let their students eat / to eat in class. 5. Parents should cooperate with schools and force their chil­dren do / to do their homework. 6. Schools should make all pu­pils do / to do sports. 7. Parents should never allow their chil­dren go /to go on holiday with friends unaccompanied. 8. Par­ents are right to let their children wear / to wear what they want at weekends. 9. Parents are right to forbid their children go / to go out in the evenings during the week. 10. Parents should not make their children study / to study on Sundays.

A: Discuss your answers with the partner.

B: Work with your partner. Make up a list or recommendations

for good students / teachers / parents. Use the verbs given

above.

25. Read what Maggy James says about her childhood. Do the exercises below.

 

"Did I have a strict upbringing? No, I don't think so.

I remember my parents made me promise not to speak to strangers, and they forbade me to go to a friend's house straight from school. I always had to go home first. But then my mother usually let me go out and see my friends. When I was older, they didn't allow me to go out with a young man on my own, but they let me go out with a group of friends. And they never allowed me to stay out after midnight. But that was accepted at that time.

I think, if you force children to do things all the time, even­tually they'll rebel. One of my friends did".

A: Say whether the following statements are true or false.

1. Maggie's parents made her go straight home from school. 2. Maggie's mother never let her go out and see her friends. 3. When Maggie grew older she was allowed to go out with a young man on her own. 4. Maggie's parents let her stay out af­ter midnight. 5. Maggie believes that children should be forced to do things all the time.

B: Now report this article, using the verbs given. Each comple­tion contains a passive form,

 

Mrs Maggie James told me that she ... make / promise not to speak to strangers, and she ... forbid / go a friend's house straight from school. She ... make/go home first, and then she ... allow/go out. When she was older, she admitted, she ... not allow / go out with a young man on her own, but she ... allow / go out with a group of friends, although she ... never allow / stay out after midnight. Maggie thinks that if children ... force / do things by parents or teachers, then they'll rebel.

C: Say what you were made, allowed, forbidden, let and forced to do when a child. Use the ideas from the box bellow:

 

Have parties. Spend lots of money on records.
Stay out late. Get up early on Sundays.
Bring friends home. Help at home.
Listen to loud music. Buy your own clothes.
Wear whatever clothes you want. Go on holiday with friends.
Watch late films on TV. Talk on the telephone for hours.

26. Compare the way Martin and Janet like to spend their week­ends. Say which they would rather, would sooner do this week­end or prefer not to do.

Model: Martin would rather get up early. Janet would prefer to sleeplate.

Or Martinwould rather not sleeplate.Janetwould pre­fer not to getup early.

Martin's preferences Janet's preferences
Get up early. Sleep late.
Spend the day at home. Visit friends.
Eat at home. Go out to eat.
Wear old clothes. Dress fashionably.
Watch TV all afternoon. Go to museum and galleries.
Play sports. Go to the cinema.
Go to bed early. Watch a late night film on TV.

Work in pairs. Speak about your preferences at the weekends. Use the patterns above.

27. Read the text. Compare Sally's idea of having a good holi­day with that of yours.