Some children go to school at the age of four, why is that? It is not a matter of the-earlier-the-better when we discuss at what age children should go to school. As to me, it is unhealthy for children to start school too early.

有些孩子四岁就去上学了，为什么呢？在我们谈论孩子该在什么年龄上学的时候，不是越早越好的问题。在我看来，孩子太早上学不健康。

First of all, psychologically speaking, children who attend school too early are forced into a premature¹ situation, and thus bear more pressure than their peers. When they sit in a classroom full of competition from other students who are two or three years older than them, it is difficult for them to deal with problems that others find easy to handle. Therefore, they might lose confidence.

第一，就心理方面来说，孩子太早上学就被迫地陷入不成熟的境遇，他们会比同辈的人受到更多的压力。当他们坐在一个充满来自比他们大两三岁的竞争对手的教室中，而且别人很容易掌握的问题，他们很难处理。这样他们很容易失去信心。

Secondly, from the physical aspect, it is harmful for small children to shoulder the burden of schoolwork. According to the statistics, there are at least 8,096 students in a single public school being overloaded² wich homework.This results in many physical problems, such as short-sightedness and stunted³ growth.

第二，从身体方面来说，孩子过早地担负学校作业是有害的。根据数据显示，在一所公立学校就有8096个学生家庭作业超负荷。这个会引发许多身体毛病，例如近视和发育不良。

Last but not least, most of the children who attend school earlier than others do not receive a well-rounded education, and tend to fall behind when they enter high school.

最后但并非不重要，许多过早上学的孩子并没有接受到全方位的教育，而且他们更容易在上高中的时候落后于其他人。

In a word, i think that schooling⁴ should follow the natural growth of children’sbodied and minds. To start school too early is harmful for children both mentally and physically⁵. In my opinion, children should start school at least after seven years old.

总而言之，我认为上学该遵照孩子的身体，心智自然发育而来。过早上学对孩子的心里和生理都不好。就我而言，孩子应该在7岁之后上学。