Write to Win (Round 3): What isn’t a subject in school that you think should be?
In our writing contest, students are eliminated one at a time based on your votes and YP editors’ picks
What’s something important that you think students should learn? Photo: ShutterstockRead the responses to this week’s Write to Win prompt, and choose the answer you like most on this form.
Sydney: I think schools should have a subject called “Curiosity Studies.” It would combine science, mythology, artificial intelligence, astronomy, and economics – topics that spark big questions. This subject would be a space to think freely, explore boldly, and imagine without limits. We’d use telescopes, digital boards, and creative storytelling to connect ideas across subjects. Instead of focusing only on the right answers, we’d celebrate the joy of asking questions. After all, curiosity is where all great learning – and invention – truly begins.
Seoul: A “Relief” class would allow students to relax and take a break from all the tiring schoolwork from the day. Of course, there wouldn’t be any exams for this class. Instead, it would teach students how to relax and relieve stress. Students could also talk to their teachers one-on-one so they could talk about their problems with a trusted adult.
Singapore: I staunchly believe visual arts shouldn’t be a subject at school. Art is up to interpretation, yet assignments reduce it to a teacher’s subjective perception. School assessments are theme-based, but art thrives on whimsical creativity and boundlessness. Depriving students of these fundamental elements undermines their autonomy and confidence in presenting their artwork. Their brainchild being coded and valued by one individual’s – or society’s – standards is unfair to artistic innovation. Shouldn’t the school be nurturing creativity in lieu of stifling and constraining it with rigid frameworks?
Hong Kong: I think that schools should teach all about financial literacy because many teens, including myself, have a hard time understanding how to budget and save money to buy the things we want. Furthermore, learning about financial literacy helps us better prepare for the future, helping us feel less stressed about the money-related issues we may come across in the future. Knowing how to handle one of the most important aspects of life is just as important as the other subjects we learn and study at school.
London: I think carpentry should be a subject in school because it provides a huge range of benefits for students. For example, carpentry requires focus and attention, helping students refine cognitive skills and improve memory. Additionally, carpentry inspires students’ creativity. Through their creations, they are bringing their imaginations to life. They would also enhance their problem-solving skills throughout the process, promoting stronger emotional development when they face adversity in the future.
Berlin: Schools should add basic first aid as a subject. These classes could teach CPR, as well as how to treat wounds, burns, and bleeding. Students could act quickly during emergencies at home, school, or in public. They could also help others during critical accidents. It would help to create a safer society because civilians can also be useful in times of crisis, which reduces the pressure on hospitals. By learning first aid in school, students will remember it as a practical lifelong skill, contributing to and fostering an uplifting, synergistic society.