Sir Ken Robinson

I believe Mr. Robinson had an interesting perspective on creativity in schools. I agree with his statement that creativity should be as important as literacy. Without creativity there is no motivation to learn. It would all be text book and lecture. I can relate to the idea that the reason many students no longer flourish in their creative self is from the fear of being wrong. Even from my first few years as a student, I can recall almost every question having a right or wrong answer. If you guessed the right answer you were rewarded, just as if you guessed the wrong there was no reward, a shame of sorts for being wrong. In our classrooms today, from middle school to college, you see so few students posing questions because they are in fear of being wrong or looking like an idiot. Not only is this fear, that is being placed at a young age crushing creativity it is also taking its toll on curiosity. More than ever you can see how education is shaped by industry; by what industries are available and what industry pays the most. The story of the choreographer who works with Andrew Lloyd Weber is inspiring. Finding a doctor or teacher or parent who would give, let alone accept, the idea of putting an "ADHD" student in a dance class is slim to none in our society. The norm for today would have been a prescription of Ritalin. With the economy and the way our society is today, the idea that a college degree will not grantee a job is terrifying, but true. Now students are having to pay more and earn a higher level of education just to ensure a job in their field. But with creative ideas employed in our daily lives and careers that would set us apart. It is only figuring out how to reverse our own fear of being wrong and release our inner creativity, as well as help to nourish the creativity of our future students, so they, also, can be prepared.