The role of raising children is undeniably best left to the child’s parents, not society as a whole. It is not the job of society to judge what a child’s talents or abilities are, nor to train that child at an early age. However, once that child’s special skills or aptitudes become apparent, society and the parents should do everything that they can to encourage the development of such abilities as long as the child agrees and desires to participate. No child should ever be pushed into a training program or special school if they do not wish to do so.

Firstly, society does play a role in the development of a child, albeit a much smaller role than that of the child’s family. One cannot deny outside influences such as schools, churches and peer groups. But the role of the parents and siblings is paramount. It is the parent’s job to raise the children, not society’s. However, should a coach or teacher see some special talent or ability in a child, it is incumbent upon him or her to let the parents know that they have an exceptional child. Perhaps they can even encourage the child to develop those skills if the child shows an interest. But the main burden of responsibility for the child’s overall development remains with the parents.

Secondly, but perhaps more importantly, is the fact that if a child does show some special aptitude for something, they should not be forced into focusing on that particular skill if they do not wish to do so. There are far too many stories of adults who had horrible childhoods because well-meaning parents required intense training or practice for something that the child hated. Too much emphasis on one area may make the child rebel against it, even if they actually do excel at the activity. As an example, very few child actors, who are usually introduced into acting through well-meaning parents, continue with acting careers into adulthood. Additionally too many former child actors run into problems in adolescence and adulthood, often running afoul of the law with drug and alcohol problems. Although they may have truly been gifted child actors, having been forced into the profession causes too many problems later on in life.

Thirdly, all human beings have an inalienable right to self-determination, even to a certain extent as children. Children must be allowed to grow up at their own rate. Psychologists have done studies on so called “child prodigies” who show tremendous intelligence and learning aptitude at a young age. Some of these child prodigies have graduated from universities before even reaching their teen years. But studies have shown that lack of association with children their own age causes many problems. These child prodigies were forced to grow up too fast without the benefit of a normal childhood. By the time they reach adulthood, they begin to feel that they missed out on childhood and may experience psychological problems related to being pushed through school too quickly. Some of them are even ashamed of being so intelligent and try to hide these abilities later on in life. Even children with special aptitudes must be allowed to choose for themselves whether they pursue these skills or not.

To summarize, it is the parents and not a society that bears the responsibility for raising children. Should society or parents recognize some special talents or abilities in a child, every effort must be taken to ensure that the child is given the chance to develop these skills, while at the same time the child must not be forced into developing these talents against his or her own will.

(610 words)

参考译文

社会应该识别那些具有特殊禀赋和才能的儿童，从早期就开始教育培养他们，这样，他们就必然会在他们具有天赋的领域中脱颖而出。否则，这些天赋很有可能悉遭湮没。

培养孩子的任务是无可非议地交给了父母，而不是整个社会。判断一个儿童具有什么才具和能力，并不是社会的工作，对儿童早期的教育也不是社会的工作。然而，一旦儿童的特殊才能显露出来，那么社会和父母都应该尽最大力量使这样的才能得到发展，当然，是在儿童同意并期望参与的情况下。倘若儿童不情愿，他就不应该被强迫进行专门训练或进入专业学校学习。

首先，社会在儿童的发展中确确实实起着作用，尽管这种作用比起家庭的作用小得多。我们无法否认外界对儿童的影响，例如学校、教会、成人群体等等。但是父母和兄姊的作用是至关重要的。抚养孩子的工作应该是父母的，而不是社会的。诚然，如果某位教练或老师发现某个儿童拥有特殊的才能，他/她就有义务让其父母知道这个孩子很出类拔萃。或许，如果孩子有兴趣，父母应鼓励孩子去发展那些才能。然而，孩子全面发展的责任，自然是在父母。

其次，或许更重要的是，如果孩子确实表现出对某事物的特别才能，成人不应该强迫他们集中所有的精力来培养这种特别才能，如果他们不情愿的话。我们有太多的故事可说明有些成年人的童年是多么的可怕，原因就是他们好心的父母要求对孩子进行苛刻的训练，但孩子却不喜欢。对某一方面强调过分，就会使孩子产生逆反心理，即便他们实际上的确在该方面很优秀。比如，几乎没有任何儿童演员能将其演艺生涯持续到成年，这些儿童多是由好意的父母要其演戏的。此外，还有许多这样的儿童演员在青年时期和成年时期陷入麻烦，常见的是因吸毒或酗酒陷入法律诉讼。尽管他们很可能是很有才能的儿童演员，但是由于是被迫从事这个职业，所以在以后的生活中造成很多麻烦问题。

再其次，每个人都有自主的权力。这是一种不可剥夺的权力，在某种意义上儿童亦复如此。儿童应该遵循其自身的发展而成长起来。心理学家对所谓的“神童”进行了大量的研究，这些所谓的“神童”在早年表现出异乎寻常的智力和学习能力。这类神童中的有些人在到达青少年年纪前就已大学毕业。但研究表明，因为他们缺乏与其同龄人的交往，产生了许多问题。这些天才儿童没能经历正常的童年而被迫成长过快。当他们成年后，就开始感到他们错过了儿童时代，因而会经历与过快度过学校时光相关的心理障碍。有些甚至为聪明而倍感羞愧并且试图在以后的生活中埋藏其才能。所以，即使是具有特殊才能的儿童也应该自主选择是否应该追求这些技能的发展。

总之，是父母而不是社会应该对培养孩子负责。倘若社会或父母发现孩子具有某种特殊天赋或才能，应该尽最大努力以保证孩子有机会发展这种才能。同时，不应该强迫孩子违背自己的意愿去发展这种才能。