Are Schools Suffocating Our Children’s Creative Spark?

This question was posed six years ago by Sir Ken Robinson, an English author, speaker, and international adviser on education. He spoke candidly, passionately and, quite humorously, at the annual TED conference challenging parents and educators to nourish a child’s creativity. His message was extraordinary and has been downloaded more than 3.5 million times in more than 200 countries. You can listen to his speech below, but for the moment let’s take a second to consider his point.

How are Schools Stifling Creative Thought?

It is not intentional. Let’s begin there. No one would intentionally set out to extinguish the flames of creativity. At least I would hope not. Instead it seems to be a gut-reaction, a desperate attempt to nudge students to conform, to make “right” choices, to follow the path of least resistance. But why?

Schools and teachers are held to high standards based on pressure from national standards as well as community expectations for schools to perform as A+ schools. How are these standards measured? Standardized tests generate scores that can be measured and promoted as proof of success or failure for both students and teachers. This intense focus on tangible test results that typically measure mathematics and scientific skill overlook the immense talent that exists in children who are not androids, yet students who express and learn through their senses, not computer generated tests designed to place them on a statistical grid; highlighting weaknesses instead of promoting talent that goes beyond using a #2 pencil and filling in an oval.

If you have fifteen minutes, take the time to listen to this message below. The message is eloquent and eye-opening. Then tell us your thoughts. Do you think our educational system devalues creative thought?