Argumentative: Day School Is Better Than Boarding School – JSS1 English Lesson Note (Second Term)

An argumentative piece takes one side on an issue and supports it with reasons. A balanced article, like the one below, gives points for both sides and leaves the reader to decide. In this lesson, students use the points in a balanced article on day and boarding schools to write an argument for one side.

Behavioural objectives

By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

• identify the points the writer makes in favour of day schools;
• identify the points the writer makes in favour of boarding schools;
• compare the two types of school using points from the article;
• state which side they agree with and give reasons for their choice;
• write a short argumentative paragraph with an opening view, reasons and a closing view.

What does the article say about day and boarding schools?

Study the article below. It is a balanced article, so it does not choose a side. Later in the lesson you will choose one.

Education is the most important aspect of any child’s life. Children who are privileged to have an education tend to be seen as smart and intelligent. Although not everyone attends school, having an education, at least to a certain stage, is important, and no one can ever stop learning because we are all students of life.

This brings me to the reason for this piece. Some of us who have children getting ready for secondary school may be unsure which school to send our child to. Here are a few benefits of the two types of school. First, the day school.

What are the benefits of a day school?

1. Co-education

Many day schools are co-educational, and this is an important requirement in today’s world. Interacting with the opposite sex in the early years helps children to be comfortable with them later, when they have to work alongside them in an official environment. Children who have not had this opportunity might be shy and uncomfortable when they meet people of the opposite sex in the future.

Day schools that admit boys and girls encourage them to mingle from an early age. This builds confidence and helps in the exchange of ideas between the sexes over the formative years. Some boarding schools are also co-educational.

2. Cost benefits

Day schools are a preferred option because they are much less expensive than boarding schools. Tuition fees in day schools are affordable, and most good quality day schools cost less than boarding schools. This is one reason why many parents choose them.

Day schools also allow parents to enrol their children in private lessons of their choice, in case the children need extra coaching. Many boarding schools in Nigeria charge fees that are rather high, so many Nigerian parents prefer day schools.

3. Supervision

Day schools suit parents who wish to supervise their children closely. They allow constant parent-teacher contact, so parents can monitor their children’s progress in both academics and extracurricular activities.

Parents can also give moral guidance when they are in daily contact with their children.

4. Hectic life and convenience

If children are used to the comforts of home, they might find it difficult to cope in a boarding school. Day students can relax more. In a boarding school, students are expected to take part in many activities, and some find the schedule hard to manage. Parents may therefore do better to choose a day school if their children have been brought up in a relaxed atmosphere.

5. Emergency

If a child falls sick or is injured, parents can reach a day student quickly. Some children need their parents by their side when something unpleasant happens.

What are the benefits of a boarding school?

Now, the boarding school.

1. Smartness

In a boarding school, students live, study and play together. A love of learning is shared, so it is cool to be smart and cool to learn.

2. Small classes

Boarding schools are often smaller than day schools, and each class may have fewer students. In a small class you cannot hide. You have to take part and you will be called on to give answers. You are never just a number.

3. Responsibility

Boarding school teaches students to take many small steps towards maturity. Because it is a community, you learn to get along with others. You also learn to answer for your actions, because you must obey the school rules. These lessons lay a solid foundation for adulthood.

4. Wide knowledge

Boarders spend more of the day at school. They have supervised evening study (prep), access to the library and teachers close by, so they have more time to study and to read widely.

5. Independence

It is never easy to leave home, but it can be good to learn independence early. Boarders learn to cope with the ups and downs of life among classmates who are going through the same things. All of this happens under the eyes of teachers and house staff who guide them.

6. Helpful teachers

Teachers in a boarding school are close to the students for most of the day. Because students are supervised after lessons as well, teachers can spend more time teaching and giving extra help, and less time dealing with indiscipline.

How do the two types of school compare?

The best choice depends on several factors, especially the maturity of the child, the family’s budget and how close the school is to home.

How do I write an argumentative paragraph?

An argumentative piece must take one side. Use these steps:

1. State your view in the opening sentence.
2. Give two or three reasons, each with a short example or explanation.
3. End by repeating your view in new words.

Model paragraph: day school is better

I believe that day school is better than boarding school. First, day school costs less, so more parents can afford it and still pay for extra lessons if their child needs them. Also, day students go home every day, so their parents can supervise them and give them moral guidance. In addition, if a day student falls sick, the parents can reach the child quickly. For these reasons, day school is the better choice for a child.

A student who prefers boarding school can write in the same way, using points such as small classes, independence and helpful teachers.

Evaluation

1. Which benefit of day school helps parents to reach a sick child quickly?
2. Which benefit of day school helps boys and girls to be at ease with each other?
3. Which benefit of day school is about school fees?
4. Which benefit of boarding school means that a student cannot hide in class?
5. Which benefit of boarding school is about learning to be independent early by living away from home?

Answer key for teachers

1. Emergency
2. Co-education
3. Cost benefits
4. Small classes
5. Independence

Assignment

Write a short argumentative paragraph saying whether you prefer a day school or a boarding school.

1. First, study the article and list the points you would use to support your view.
2. State your view in the first sentence.
3. Support it with at least two points from the article.
4. End by repeating your view.