Some people think that because children find subjects such as mathematics and philosophy difficult, they ought to be optional instead of compulsory. To what extent do you agree?

Many feel that overly rigorous

subjects

such

as mathematics and philosophy should not be mandatory for

children

. In my opinion, though there is a risk

students

Correct the article-noun agreement

student

show examples

will struggle to cope, teachers should be able to adapt to the subject matter. One reason these

subjects

should not be mandatory is they are often too abstract for young

children

. Numbers themselves are abstract.

This

is why many

children

are unable to tell time as it is essentially a metaphorical division of a circle into a clock. Teachers who place too much emphasis on abstract numbers and ideas in their lessons will find that students may become bored because they are unable to grasp the concepts. Philosophy could

also

become tedious and inefficient if the students lack the cognitive ability to apply general rules and ethical considerations to everyday life.

This

capacity to recognize and apply abstractions typically develops later in adolescence.

However

, these

subjects

can be made accessible for

children

. The key is the approach of teachers and the choice of materials. Math,

for example

, does not need

to begin

with complex, abstract equations but could

instead

involve real-world scenarios and simple logic. Numbers could be introduced later as

children

tend to be confused by less grounded concepts.

Similarly

, philosophy can be approached from a number of mediums, including through stories. Many

children

’s stories and fables feature curious protagonists and interesting morals.

Instead

of explicitly instructing

children

through academic jargon, they can engage with the same questions about life and its origins more directly through the journey of characters in a story. In conclusion, despite the risks of theory-heavy

subjects

for young learners, schools should embrace the challenge and seek less explicit teaching methodologies.

This

will help form the basis of a well-rounded education.