“We don’t grow into creativity, we grow out of it.” Would you agree?
This morning I listened to Sir Ken Robinson’s presentation on the educational system. I urge you to watch it, if you haven’t already. Not only do I find his speech thought provoking, but he also has an incredible sense of humor.
He claims that, “Creativity is as important in education as literacy and that we should treat it with the same status?”
Do you agree?
Picasso said, “All kids are born artists.” The problem is, how do we remain artists as we grow up? It’s our fear of making mistakes and being wrong that causes our loss of creativity as we grow older.
Sir Ken gave the example of a six-year-old girl who hardly ever paid attention in class. One day, during a drawing lesson, she finally sat still. The teacher asked her, “What are you drawing?” the girl said, “I’m drawing a picture of God.” The teacher responded, “But no one knows what God looks like.” To which the little girl said, “They will in a minute.”
Sir Ken claims that we run our companies in the same way as our educational system. “We stigmatize mistakes, and we run our education system this way, where mistakes are the worst thing we can make, and the result is we’re educating people out of their creative capacities.”
As a writer, I’m teaching myself to become more creative. Classes are offered in creative writing and now I wonder if that’s because we lost our creativity in school and as adults, we’re trying to get it back. Just as Picasso said, “We’re all born artists.” We just have to remain artists as we grow up.
Sir Ken points out something very interesting. Every education system has the same hierarchy of subjects. At the top are mathematics and language, then the humanities and at the bottom, the arts. Even within the arts there’s a hierarchy. Art and music are generally given a higher status than drama and dance. There isn’t an education system in the world that teaches dance everyday, the way we teach mathematics. Why not? Dance is very important as is math. Children dance all the time if they’re allowed to. We all have bodies. As children grow up, we start educating them progressively from the waist up, and then we focus on the heads, and then only one side of the brain.
If you’re a teacher, have children or grandchildren, and even if you look back at your own education, what do you think about education killing creativity?
Andrea says
Love this thought provoking post!! I think a lot can depend on the teachers…I had wonderful teachers and never felt stifled creatively…but I think I was lucky. We should teach our children to follow their hearts more. 🙂
Captain Hook says
I have 5 children and do worry about that frequently. But education is not the only thing that destroys creativity. So does many parents’ habit of filling a child’s every waking moment with classes, lessons and sports.
None of those are bad, in and of themselves, but when a child is left with no time to be a child, to use their imagination, it dies.
Lady Glamis says
This is an EXCELLENT post, Sonia. Wonderful things to think about. Since I have a young child, this is an important thing to consider as I send her off to school and what I teach her at home.
I plan on watching this video. I really like his accent so far.
Thank you so much for sharing.
GutsyWriter says
Andrea,
I agree, having wonderful, enthusiastic teachers, makes all the difference.
Captain Hook,
I completely agree with you and am glad you let your kids be kids. I think that’s one of the biggest mistakes we make today with our kids– to overbook them with activities. In fact there’s a great book out about that subject called: “The Price of Privilege: How Parental Pressure and Material Advantage are creating a generation of disconnected and unhappy kids,” by Madeleine Levine, Ph.D.
Rob-bear says
Sir Ken’s observation has the right connection, but he has it backwards. We don’t “run our companies in the same way as our educational system.” We actually “run our educational system in the same way as our companies.” This is to train workers from a very early age to become accustomed to the “rigors” of corporate life. (I’ll leave it there, and not turn this into a great, flaming rant.)
I agree with Sir Ken’s assessment of the educational hierarchy, which also mirrors what our society does. Our artists are amongst the poorest paid in society. Yet these are the people who remind us of what and who we are. We are not simply consumers — we are human beings. And repressed artists. Most of us have “grown out” of our inner artist — or had it beaten out of us, one way or another.
Fortunately, I can still play my five-stringed banjo. My wife still has her guitar. Son and grandson play violin. Daughter dances. We’re artistic survivors (more or less).
The W.O.W. factor! says
Sonia, this is a great post! Our daughter in S.Ca is a teacher
(k-4)with 2 children of her own. She uses creativity in ways to stimulate and strengthen the child’s learning…she herself was never stifled (sings, instruments and art,dance) and has stressed (and allowed)her own kids to be creative, play, dream and one hour of TV a day.
She implements math, history and other “hierarchy curriculum” into her classroom using the arts. She has fun and so do the kids! And they are learning!
I’m going to send this post to her.
Sadly, the “Arts” are the first things to go when budgets demand cuts! They should be last!
Thanks!
LadyFi says
I love this Ken Robinson talk.. in fact, I love most things on TED. I do agree that school kill creativity as they are usually all about learning the right answers to pass exams to fit in with work etc… For example, why aren’t creativity and the imagination on the syllabus? Why aren’t they valued as much as the ability to do maths or learn a language?
On a more sombre note – Braja’s accident occured just outside Kolkata airport. She never left India.. just as well as she has masses of people in India who are taking care of her and paying the medical bills etc…
IF you follow the link on my post, you can read updates about their condition. She is doing much better.
Kelli Nørgaard says
If you are talking about most Texas schools, the answer is YES. and it saddens and sickens me.
swenglishexpat says
The English educational system is geared towards testing too much in my opinion. Teachers have to teach towards the test, leaving too little time for creativity, curiosity and questioning. Too many tests and far too early.
The Swedish system I know too little about these days, but I know they have started copying ideas from England. Bad move, bad move!
Crimogenic says
I don’t have any children, so maybe I don’t have a good viewpoint on this. But I love this post and it makes sense to me that a child is equally exposed to the sciences and creativity.
Suzanne Casamento says
I don’t have children. And actually, I was lucky enough to have teachers who encouraged creativity as I was growing up. Whether through drawing, storytelling, singing or acting in plays, there was always someone there to encourage me and my classmates.
I’d hate to think that it’s not that way anymore. Most of the good parts of my childhood came from being creative.
SimplyForties says
I have a friend who just retired after 25 years as a 5th grade teacher. When my son was small, she was his social studies teachers. I remember one of his assignments was choosing an Indian tribe, researching their lifestyles and then building a little replica of their housing. I helped my son build a bark hut with little baskets of food. We made replicas of their clothing and fish traps. It was a lot of fun. That was the last year she gave out those sorts of assignments because, she later told me, the parents complained about them too much.
In the last few years of her teaching she had to spend so much time preparing her children to take the various assessment tests, the scores of which determined her salary, and going to committee meetings that she had no time left to nurture individual children. She is now working as a tutor and remembering all the reasons she loved teaching.
My point is that the system itself bears a lot of the blame. So, let the system teach our kids to read and write. I think it is our job as parents to nurture the creative side of our children. After all, we care about them more than anyone else does!
Kelly McMichael says
Hi Sonia,
I found your blog and wondered if I might email you. I’m writing a book about people who have made radical changes in their lives to pursue goals more aligned with their core values. I’d like to interview you via email, if you’re willing. Best,
Kelly McMichael
kellymcmichael@gmail.com
GutsyWriter says
Lady Glamis,
I hope you enjoy his presentation as much as I do.
Rob-bear,
So true. I think Sir Ken mentions that our educational system was based upon the needs of the Industrial Revolution. Glad that you still play your five-stringed banjo.
Thanks for your nice long comment.
The W.O.W. factor. I’m so happy to hear that your daughter is stimulating creativity among young kids. I hope she enjoys listening to Sir ken. Thanks for your comment.
LadyFi,
I love your idea of having creativity and imagination as subjects. I remember when I was a kid, and didn’t enjoy history, I always thought there should be subject called “The Future.”
I shall folllow Braja on your blog. Thanks for keeping us in touch.
Kelli,
What are the Danish schools like in comparison? I’d love to know.
Swenglishexpat,
My Danish friend said something similar. She said they were copying the US system of standardized testing.
GutsyWriter says
Crimogenic,
Glad you found it interesting.
Suzanne,
Thankfully some teachers are great and enjoy what they’re doing.
SimplyForties,
Good point, although it would be nice for kids to do more creative stuff with trained teachers in music, arts, dance etc.
Susie of Arabia says
Hi Sonia – I really liked this post. I think that sadly, this is true in much of our world. When I taught, I used to tell my students to not be afraid to make mistakes because it would give me an opportunity to show them ways of how they could fix a problem – and problem solving requires creativity.
I also think that with all the toys and gadgets that kids have nowadays, it impairs their own creativity. I remember playing with paperdolls and I would draw and color my own elaborate creations for them to wear. Kids don’t seem to be able to entertain themselves any more, and it’s a shame.
Jeannette St.G. says
I noticed that in the American culture (so that goes beyond the educational system!) greater value is placed on cooperation and individuality. I watched many times kids sadly who were able to express themselves in a very creative way when they were 5-6 years old, had lost most of it by the age of 10, except when they had an artistic mentor, model or parent. But there also may be a sacrifice to being artistic as a child (and/or teen): being seen as “different”, or being lonely, even being ostracized.
All things parents need to watch with their children (a LOT of work 🙂 )
BLOGitse says
How about today killing the motivation all together?
Competition is HARD, parents want their children to have a GOOD job…
But even if you have supergood papers you might end up without work.
I used to dance all my life outside school. Ballet, jazz, modern…I don't anymore but I still know how to move myself! 🙂
I wasn't good at school.
I was a rebel because I couldn't fulfill my artistic side.
I loved English but my grammar was bad. Still is.
My teachers 'hated' me but I loved English.
It took tens of years to start communicate in English because I write it like Finnish + I shouldn't make any mistakes!
But I don't care anymore.
If I make a really big mistake, so that a reader can misunderstand my meaning, she/he can always ask me to explain again/different way.
Yes, schools have always killed creativity and will.
If children don't have any artistic life at home/family/friends they end up 'dry & empty' experience of life.
I don't mean that every home should be full of 'Picassos'.
Reading, drawing, playing, acting, dancing etc. at home, going to all kinds of exhibitions, helps us to see the world from different angle…
But best way is to DO IT YOURSELF.
Thanks for this post!
The Wanderers' Daughter says
It’s an extremely interesting question. While we were waiting to adopt our daughter, I did a lot of thinking about homeschooling. I have been a teacher, and I think I would do a good job. I think that being able to shape my daughter’s education, at least in the early years, would be a wonderful thing. The trouble is, I work at home, and I love my career. I have a feeling that if I home-schooled, it would consume my creative time by necessity. I don’t want to have to make that bargain.
In my own experience – I was a child who loved academia. We moved every two years throughout my childhood, so I was in a number of different school systems. Most (though not all) schools in my early years failed to challenge a student like me who really thrives on challenge. I did however go to a really good (and tiny) private highschool for a couple of years that had its own alternative sort of curriculum, and I really came alive there.
Once in college, that was when I found the kind of teachers who really make education worth while. I loved every minute of university (both schools – I went to two different ones) and grad school, and wouldn’t trade that education for anything.
velvet brick says
Hi Sonia!
I remember visiting your blog a while back ago…welcome and I’m glad you left a comment so that I could find my way back to you again! I am a teacher – 1st/2nd grade…this is a very intriguing post. I could go on and on about my theory… but so much of it, in my opinion, boils down to children and play. Kids use to play outside, make up games, use their imaginations. Now they sit in front of a computer screen or t.v…. little imagination truly required, thus not developed. Thanks for the great post. I love your blog and plan on coming back for more visits… ; ))
VB
Cheela says
Thanks so much for leaving a comment on my blog!! I am an elementary school principal and I could go “on and on” about what you said. It isn’t really the schools’ fault, but we are stifling creativity because of politicians demanding test score accountability. I believe accountability is good, but it isn’t reflected in test scores that don’t test what is really important. We need to make children think and we need the arts, physical education, and play!! I could go on and on!!!!!
Mad Bush Farm Crew says
Excellent post Sonia. Our education system here in New Zealand focuses mainly on the same sort of subjects however, in 1999 the now previous government initiated a new curriculum in early childhood education. Children at pre-school age were given a more holistic approach that encouraged rather than discouraged creativity. At Primary School level while emphasis is still placed on literacy and numeracy at the top of the hierachy again creative thought,activity and art are heavily encouraged. My middle daughter Inaya is now at High School again the arts and creativity are actively encouraged by the School. I’m just reading Captain Hook’s comment on his view I concur. Education can destroy creativity but so can a parent’s unrealistic expectations. My girls are encouraged to be creative in all forms from writing. Strangely enough as I have grown older I have become more creative rather than less – I think that also comes down to making a conscious to explore ones innerself and ignore the conventions society as a whole dictates. Great post definitely my choice for post of the week.
Take care
Liz
Archaeogoddess says
This was an amazing video! Thank you for sharing!! I had a complete wig-out not too long ago because I realized I’d spent most of my life preparing to be job-less. Strangely this video helped me realize that it was more important for me to do something odd that I loved than become a cog in the machine. I didn’t give in! I never submitted to the pressure!!
I feel that the education system is designed to prepare you for the next step up in education, which in turn is preparing you for the work force. Data in, data out. Even in the humanities, every class I took was preparing me for the next step in education, graduate school, which in turn was designed to help me write my dissertation so that I could get a nice academic job and turn out MORE academic drivel. Sometime in all of that, I stopped acting on stage, which is a shame, I enjoyed it and seemed to do well in it. I also stopped taking art classes, because I no longer had time, I needed to take statistics and geology because they were requirements that I needed if I wanted to go to graduate school. Just try to become an archaeologist without an advanced degree. Talk about inflation, now you need an advanced degree and years of experience (which you can’t get because you need years of experience to get the job in the first place!).
In the US, I think that the SAT test is one of the great horrors of education. Most of pre-college life is geared towards training to take this test. Your scores determine your acceptance to certain schools and for scholarships. One of the few things I remember about the preparation was the teachers telling us that it was better NOT to guess, because you were penalized for a wrong answer. Talk about being trained to fear mistakes.
GutsyWriter says
Susie of Arabia,
I agree. Kids entertainment has definitely changed from when I grew up.
Jeannnette St. G.,
You raise a good point about creativity being lost around 10, and being considered “different” if you are artistic.
BLOGitse,
I think the situation is temporary and that the job market, just like the stock market, will readjust itself in a few years. Thanks for visiting.
The Wanderers’ Daughter,
Interesting that University is where you thrived the most. Possibly because you could express yourself more?
Velvet brick,
You raise the same great point as Susie of Arabia, about kids sitting in front of computers and not being creative outdoors etc. Thanks for coming over again.
Cheela,
Test scored and constant testing must be tough for teachers to have time for creativity. Sounds like what Swenglishexpat said above. Thanks for stopping by.
Mad Bush Farm Crew,
I think I shall take my kids to NX for their education, although the youngest is now 14. Too old. I’m like you, I feel I’ve become more creative with age too.
Greg C says
Great question. I need to give this some deep thought before giving my response. I will be back.
Greg C says
I think there needs to be a healthy balance of the arts and math/science. I also feel that reading is a part of the arts. I think we put too much emphesis on writing by going too far into it. I think it should be taught more from a poetic standpoint and less from a analitical angle. I do know that music is very mathimatical. My youngest took up music and his math skills improved.
Miss Footloose says
Excellent post, and a subject I’ve often thought about over the years. I remember being told by someone to never give my kids these coloring books that made them fill in certain spaces with colors and stay in the lines. A cousin of mine was told by her teacher that the trunk of a tree she drew wasn’t “real” because she had used blue and red and green bits in it. She then won an art competition with that painting.
There are wonderful teachers, but even they have to work within the system and the system is not designed to teach kids individually according to their talents.
Miss Footloose recently posted..EXPAT LIFE: OF JAIL, REPTILES, AND OTHER FUN
Gutsy Writer says
Your story about kids coloring in the lines reminds me of how I used to take great pride in doing that myself. I must have lacked creativity. Thanks for the response.