What is more, the average child spends as many as eight hours a day in school. Eight hours at school in contact with different people and various points of view starts up the process of doubt in what was thought previously and what was told by the parents. This way a child starts to think on its own and wonder about itself and others. Independent way of thinking and seeing things is also one of the main features of character that an separate person has.
An additional argument in support of school is that young people are exposed to wide variety of subjects. As a consequence views are not only changed, but also enlarged. Child sees the idea from many points of view. What is more, different subjects broaden their interests and hobbies, which makes a child an individual among others. Due to this fact a personality is shaped, as personality is regarded as something individual and which cannot by repeated.
On the other hand, most children have a closer relationship with their parents than with teachers. Obviously, they have a greater influence on a child and this kind of relationship is more valuable. Parents show their children important values and share their life experience. Naturally this cannot be taught by books and transmitted by teachers, even those the most skilled. As a result, sharing their parents experience and gaining knowledge from them about what is important in life, children form their own values and expectations, which is crucial for shaping their personality.
Furthermore, children usually spend five years of their lives at home before they even go to school. It is often claimed that during this five years the main features of personality are formed on the basis what behaviour is appropriate and how should children react in certain situations. Generally this is what family teaches a child at the beginning. What is more, parents during this period of time also spread the knowledge about the surrounding world. In other words, by all this actions, parents build the foundations of a future personality that their child will have.
Moreover, so much of the school day is devoted to competition and preparation for examinations that there is little time left for personality development. This are not the most important abilities in life that a person should have. In fact more important is the way that a person deals with certain problems, which are not always simple to handle with. Parents are more likely to give advice and show what would be the best solution for a problem. Due to this fact, they are more able forming children's personality than school does.
Taking everything into consideration, the is no absolute answer to the question which factor- school or family has a greater influence on child's personality. On one hand school teaches the child how to socialise, but on the other hand children have closer relationship with the parents than with teachers. Although in school young people are exposed to a wide variety of subjects, much of the school day is devoted to competition and exam preparation. However, a child spends as many as eight hours a day at school, their first five years before they go to school are spend at home.