Do schools kill creativity?

[universecannon]

Without getting into the recent controversy surrounding the insanity within the TED organization itself i just wanted to post this video imPsimon made me aware of in another thread.. I thought it was really thought provoking and funny, despite the main points probably being pretty obvious to this crowd

[YOUTUBE]

 

[Mr.Peabody]

Do schools kill creativity?

Hell yes they do. Man, school was a prison for me.


"Our minds have been mined like the minerals from the Earth"


Very interesting, indeed. Thanks for the video!

 

[SpireCatalyst]

Valid points indeed...
But knowing and understanding doesn't overshadow imagination and inspiration.
Think: you take physics and apply it to your view of the world...maybe project yourself into a future where what you learned is outdated.

A lot can change by going to school...if you limit your focus on school itself then maybe the rest of life goes out of focus.

 

[universecannon]

I remember ever since i was in my early teens this Mark Twain line has stuck in my head

"never let schooling interfere with your education"

 

[cyb]

That was fantastic. Funny, informative and quite true.
(Forwarding this to the teachers I know)

 

[hug46]

I looked at the curriculum for primary/secondary schools in the uk and they still put the emphasis on academia over music/art/design. I don"t remember doing music at my seconadary school at all, or design and technology (i dont think technology had been invented when i was at school).
I also think it depends on what teachers you have and how they present information to you. I do think that moving more towards the creative side of things would be more advantageous for the general population.
I dont really get the argument of "you"re not likely to become a professional musician so do more maths". If i was working in a factory all day, i"d take an o-level in guitar playing over o-level maths anyday. I find it therapeutic to come home from a days mundane work and create, whether i become a pro or not.
On the other hand i found science difficult and boring when i was at school but the fundamentals of my main job are centred around it, i now find it interesting and wish i had applied myself more when i was younger.
I enjoyed the video.

 

[universecannon]

That was fantastic. Funny, informative and quite true.
(Forwarding this to the teachers I know)

heheh, i sent it to some of my professors..they'll get a kick out of it

 

[Nathanial.Dread]

I think it depends totally on the teachers you have.

In general, the US public school system (which is the one I know best) is pretty mind-numbingly conformist and controlling. All of those standardized tests where a tremendous waste of time, but it wasn't all bad.

I was lucky enough to have several incredibly gifted teachers who taught me physics, government and theatre in endlessly creative and interesting ways. I owe most of who I am as an artist to my high school theatre teacher who gave me and my class a space to be incredibly self-motivated and creative over the course of the four years we spent together.

The public school system has a LOT of flaws, but it isn't all automatons turning children into sheep to work for 'the man.' There are a lot of positive influences there too.

True, the government seems to be working hard to stamp them out, but I hope that they stick around and there are enough young people in the up-and-coming generation who are passionate enough about learning that they'll opt to become teachers, even in the currently harsh climate.