Are Schools Killing Creativity?

Before I address “Do schools kill creativity” let’s look at the characteristics of a creative mind.  Gardner (2008) points out “The creator stands out in terms of temperament, personality and stance.  She is perennially dissatisfied with current work, current standards, current questions, and current answers.  She strikes out in unfamiliar directions and enjoys or at least accepts being different from the pack” (p.83).  Gardner and Sir Ken Robinson are similar with their thoughts about a creative mind’s character.  In Robinson’s speech he talked about the behavior of a well known person, Gillian Lynne.  When she was a little girl back in the 1930’s she would have been classified as a child with ADHD.  However, when the mother took her to the doctor, the doctor diagnosis her as a dancer and that was her intelligence and creativity.  When I read Gardner’s belief and view Robinson’s video a flood a faces popped into my head.  There are many students who I know fit the criteria.  However, along with these characteristics home environmental issues hinder the creativity too.  Gardner also continues to describe a creative person by making the connection to a synthesizing mind.  A creator Gardner (2008) “Does not shrink from that unexpected wrinkle; indeed she wants to understand it and determine whether it constitutes a trivial error, and unrepeatable fluke or an important but hitherto unknown truth” (p. 83).  Knowing the characteristics saddens my heart.  I believe education does kill creativity because most people who do not work in the classroom don’t understand its importance and unfortunately they are the ones making the decisions for many educators.  Our focus is mainly on Literacy and math.

          As a teacher of special needs I’ve talk to many parents about their children’s desires.  What do they love to do? I try to tie in their gifts with education but this concept is challenging.  However, this course allowed me to use other strategies that can help with creativity.  I would use digital media as another support to a creative mind.  For example, many of my male students love sports.  I can use video clippings of the sport and I would focus on their training.  This would permit me to make the connection with practice and their school work.  In order to great in life one must practice and always maintain their gift.