PARENTS SHOULD NOT ALLOW THEIR CHILDREN TO CHOOSE THEIR OWN CAREERS
Mr. Chairman. Members of Panel of Judges. Co-debaters. Ladies and Gentlemen. I am Etim Mary and I stand here before this distinguished audience to oppose the motion which states that: "Parents should allow their children to choose their own careers."
These are my points. Firstly. it is a well-known fact that experience is the best teacher and a famous African sage said that what an elder can see while sitting, a youth can not see it even from the top of a palm tree. Hence. I dare say that it is only proper for parents who as elders are more experienced. to choose careers for their children. Apart from this, parents as experienced people are better suited for the task of choosing careers for their children. This is because they understand what a career entails and as such will make a better choice of career for their children.
Secondly. parents should choose careers for their children to ensure continuity of careers in their families. It is understandable that no individual would like to see his work or business run down because of mis-management, nor would anyone like to leave his business for a stranger to manage. For this reason, parents should choose careers which will better prepare their children for the task of continuing the family business even after they have passed on. This will not only ensure economic security for the children but will make sure that the family's legacy is not forgotten.
In addition to this. naivety on the part of children can make them choose careers which they are not well suited for. This is so because most children are immature as at the age when they are to choose careers for themselves. It is a known fact that at this age, they are easily influenced by peer influence and social trends. For example, a child may be quite good in arts subjects and would possibly become a lawyer someday, but he may be influenced by his friends to choose science subjects because it is perceived to be in vogue. The resultant effect on the society is that a potential advocate is lost and by the time such a child is disillusioned, he will realize only too late that he is not suited to be a science student. This can be avoided if parents who are more enlightened and know the ability of the child are allowed to choose a career for him.
Lastly, parents are older, wiser and more experienced. They are not likely to be influenced by social trends but by the academic ability of their children in choosing careers for them. Besides, they always strive for the best for their children.
I believe that with these points of mine, you have been able to see reasons with me that parents should not allow their children to choose their own careers but rather, this choice should be made for them by their parents. Thank you.