Comments on: Do Schools Kill Creativity? http://www.savvymusician.com/blog/2009/11/do-schools-kill-creativity/ Sun, 05 Feb 2012 01:45:23 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Rebsicle http://www.savvymusician.com/blog/2009/11/do-schools-kill-creativity/comment-page-1/#comment-139046 Rebsicle Mon, 20 Jun 2011 02:00:24 +0000 http://www.savvymusician.com/blog/?p=558#comment-139046 I'm actually writing an article for my school's magazine as we speak because I was so riled up and inspired by Sir Robinson's talk. As a student, I totally identify with everything he says about students being scared to answer questions. The general atmosphere, in my school anyway, is 'This is what you are learning, these are the answers.' And that's it. In every subject, there's such a strict curriculum we have to follow, there's no time to go off on tangents, or explore. It's so depressing, I don't think the teachers like it either. I mean, to get the best grades,all you have to do memorise all the facts and reasons the teachers spoon-feed to you. I really hope by the time I have my own children, Sur Robinson's ideas have taken off. I’m actually writing an article for my school’s magazine as we speak because I was so riled up and inspired by Sir Robinson’s talk. As a student, I totally identify with everything he says about students being scared to answer questions. The general atmosphere, in my school anyway, is ‘This is what you are learning, these are the answers.’ And that’s it. In every subject, there’s such a strict curriculum we have to follow, there’s no time to go off on tangents, or explore. It’s so depressing, I don’t think the teachers like it either. I mean, to get the best grades,all you have to do memorise all the facts and reasons the teachers spoon-feed to you. I really hope by the time I have my own children, Sur Robinson’s ideas have taken off.

]]> By: Jessica K. http://www.savvymusician.com/blog/2009/11/do-schools-kill-creativity/comment-page-1/#comment-184 Jessica K. Thu, 12 Nov 2009 05:41:59 +0000 http://www.savvymusician.com/blog/?p=558#comment-184 I think not only is creativity lost in a subject that is thought to be most creative but in all school subjects in general. Creativity, along with critical thinking skills (which I feel are sometimes one in the same) are not fostered. I myself know that only as a robot have I done well in classes. There was no room for creativity. By the same token, I understand that sometimes, the grind is really all that is needed to learn your craft, but it would be nice to have more teachers fostering creativity before it is completely lost. The best classes, and those that have motivated me to do the most, have been ones in which the professor not only was enthusiastic about the subject they were teaching but presented it in an interesting way. Generally, I've been disappointed with the lack of creativity of teachers, especially on the college level and I do think it completely detracts from my own creativity. Lastly, I feel that creativity breeds from experience. When cooped up in a school all day, your experiences become that of sitting in front of computers, in practice rooms, and maybe reading or writing. Therefore, your own creativity can suffer. I think not only is creativity lost in a subject that is thought to be most creative but in all school subjects in general. Creativity, along with critical thinking skills (which I feel are sometimes one in the same) are not fostered. I myself know that only as a robot have I done well in classes. There was no room for creativity. By the same token, I understand that sometimes, the grind is really all that is needed to learn your craft, but it would be nice to have more teachers fostering creativity before it is completely lost. The best classes, and those that have motivated me to do the most, have been ones in which the professor not only was enthusiastic about the subject they were teaching but presented it in an interesting way. Generally, I’ve been disappointed with the lack of creativity of teachers, especially on the college level and I do think it completely detracts from my own creativity. Lastly, I feel that creativity breeds from experience. When cooped up in a school all day, your experiences become that of sitting in front of computers, in practice rooms, and maybe reading or writing. Therefore, your own creativity can suffer.

]]> By: Molly Rae http://www.savvymusician.com/blog/2009/11/do-schools-kill-creativity/comment-page-1/#comment-136 Molly Rae Mon, 09 Nov 2009 22:25:28 +0000 http://www.savvymusician.com/blog/?p=558#comment-136 I could not agree more, and I am glad that Dr. Cutler added those few extra points. I would like to add that creativity fosters the development of the mind, the soul and the spirit. Happiness is dependent on creativity and achievement and without one's imagination and new ideas that are born from creativity, what else is there to accomplish and strive for in this life? When the arts and music are collaboratively taught in an open manner that allows students to express themselves freely and artistically, creativity grows giving each individual the opportunity to find their own creative niche. The arts and music develop the person, and where culture begins, society will follow. Music and the arts are also an excellent way for people to express their emotions, and it is my argument that people and especially children who are discouraged from nurturing their artistic abilities conclusively develop violent, aggressive, emotionally unstable tendencies throughout their adulthood. I could not agree more, and I am glad that Dr. Cutler added those few extra points. I would like to add that creativity fosters the development of the mind, the soul and the spirit. Happiness is dependent on creativity and achievement and without one’s imagination and new ideas that are born from creativity, what else is there to accomplish and strive for in this life? When the arts and music are collaboratively taught in an open manner that allows students to express themselves freely and artistically, creativity grows giving each individual the opportunity to find their own creative niche. The arts and music develop the person, and where culture begins, society will follow. Music and the arts are also an excellent way for people to express their emotions, and it is my argument that people and especially children who are discouraged from nurturing their artistic abilities conclusively develop violent, aggressive, emotionally unstable tendencies throughout their adulthood.

]]> By: Grant Amadeus Giel http://www.savvymusician.com/blog/2009/11/do-schools-kill-creativity/comment-page-1/#comment-131 Grant Amadeus Giel Mon, 09 Nov 2009 16:35:19 +0000 http://www.savvymusician.com/blog/?p=558#comment-131 I also wholeheartedly agree with his entire conclusion, and I've argued it myself many times before ever hearing this. It really does become especially true in Liberal Arts higher education, and I feel that my main reason for being a music student is so that I can learn to sing in a way that will not hurt me instead of singing in a way that fosters my professors' creativity. I can barely agree with going to school for music, and doing it for writing or art is simply absurd to me (or at least, going to school for many years learning the same thing is absurd). And it's so incredibly true that people are literally afraid to fail or be wrong in any class or at any time. A person is afraid to raise their hand and answer a question in a language class, let alone take a creative musical chance in their composition class or focus on painting Dada art in an art school that focuses on Impressionism. Hopefully we really can fix this and fix it where it is most problematic; secondary and tertiary education. I really liked the video as well. Thanks for the post! I also wholeheartedly agree with his entire conclusion, and I’ve argued it myself many times before ever hearing this. It really does become especially true in Liberal Arts higher education, and I feel that my main reason for being a music student is so that I can learn to sing in a way that will not hurt me instead of singing in a way that fosters my professors’ creativity. I can barely agree with going to school for music, and doing it for writing or art is simply absurd to me (or at least, going to school for many years learning the same thing is absurd).

And it’s so incredibly true that people are literally afraid to fail or be wrong in any class or at any time. A person is afraid to raise their hand and answer a question in a language class, let alone take a creative musical chance in their composition class or focus on painting Dada art in an art school that focuses on Impressionism.

Hopefully we really can fix this and fix it where it is most problematic; secondary and tertiary education. I really liked the video as well. Thanks for the post!

]]> By: Langston http://www.savvymusician.com/blog/2009/11/do-schools-kill-creativity/comment-page-1/#comment-130 Langston Mon, 09 Nov 2009 15:48:06 +0000 http://www.savvymusician.com/blog/?p=558#comment-130 Yes, and perhaps people should even be educated differently in different places. Unfortunately, there are those who are not interested in the whole and only want control and profit--victims of there own misguided education. Yes, and perhaps people should even be educated differently in different places. Unfortunately, there are those who are not interested in the whole and only want control and profit–victims of there own misguided education.

]]> By: Valentino L. Vazquez http://www.savvymusician.com/blog/2009/11/do-schools-kill-creativity/comment-page-1/#comment-122 Valentino L. Vazquez Sun, 08 Nov 2009 04:20:42 +0000 http://www.savvymusician.com/blog/?p=558#comment-122 Very little do I disagree with Dr. Cutler! Creativity is "desperately" needed! Very little do I disagree with Dr. Cutler! Creativity is “desperately” needed!

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