Are we promoting creativity in schools? Or stifling kids from taking risks as we dictate how things should be?

Question

(Please base your responses on experiences you have seen first hand or have encountered personally.)

Answer 1

Depends on the schools.

Different schools have different curriculums.

Also, public schools have the burden of providing education to a variety of students that may not even want an education. There is a responsibility to the whole of the student body to create order and provide information at all levels of interest.

So what does that have to do with the stifling, this: it helps to shape the testing criteria so as to not fail the average students while not necessarily challenging the gifted students.

Having been a gifted student I have to admit that I was not that interested in doing all the things that were offered to me so i can't say they don't offer you more, I can say they make it as unatractive as possible. I wish it had been more attractive. Then I would have practiced more.

As is, I can say from my many creative abilities that I always felt like I was being used and not appreciated. that should never be the case. Ever.

If you want creativity, you need inspiration, and to be honest that comes from the audience, not the artist.

Answer 2

My own schooling experience growing up was one of major stifling...and no matter where I went to school...and having lived in a number of states in the 70s/80s, I went to a lot of different schools and it was ALWAYS very stifling. Here's a few examples from memory:

"That's not where you're supposed to put the lights in the Lite Bright...use the pattern, use the pattern, what, are you stupid?" - Mrs. Wright 1st Grade, Pueblo, Co.

"Class, this is the worst piece of art I've ever seen...he didn't do it exactly the way he was supposed to now did he?" - Mr. Defoe 7th Grade, Marshall, MI. Funny how no instruction was giving on the "exact" way of doing it

"Mr. Monitorhead, wrote a technically perfect essay, class. But he got it wrong in the end didn't he?" - Mr. Hanson 12th grade AP English class, Roy, UT. The question for the essay was, "What was the significance of 'the wind' in Chapter 15?" I wrote a flawless essay...saying that there wasn't any significance...it was just added to the story for dramatic effect. And seeing as how it was an opinion he was after...I gave him my own...and it didn't fit what he thought it meant...so he gave me an F and attempted to humilate me in front of the class.

...and that's only a few of the ways in which I was stifled.

Now that I have children who have been in school for a while now, I do see some stifling going on from my own perspective. And I'll be honest, I can't help but see the classrooms and teachers from my own horrible schooling experiences...and I know that that is a very biased way of looking at them, so that helps me a bit, but it's still there.

But...I talked to my kids about this last night when I first read this question, and they don't seem to feel they are being stifled, so I guess...perhaps it's okay for them....time will tell.

Answer 3

We are trying to be more creative in schools, but it will always go back to the SCORES ON THE DOORS issue - how good your value added is in English, maths and science.

The three tested subjects will constantly make time restraints on the other subjects - that's life for the moment. Until somebody stops this madness!

Also teachers are still felt to feel like they need top follow the QCA schemes to the letter, instead of making fit their children/class/context. They need to trust their professionalism to make it their own!

Some have tried hard and succeeded, some are trying and not getting it right. The enforcing of the "NOT STATUTORY" hours for Literacy and Numeracy has beaten a lot of teachers down and they have forgotten to add the spark they once had.

Teachers are sparks that should be lighting flames all across the land not quashing the fires burning under their noses.

Come on my fellow professionals - get with it and make our children proud !

Answer 4

I'm answering your first question on promoting creativity. I believe from what I have research that the government simply does not give a rats *** about promoting creativity. For example when the schools are tested on how it is doing and it does not pass, the first programs cut are the art and drama classes.

Answer 5

The schools are all stupid liars. "Oh, we encourage individuality" and then turning right around and punishing you for acting a certain way. For example, I love to draw, but I hate art class becaus they're always telling me what to do. I wouldn't have any problem if they were saying, "Draw a realistic self protrait" or "Paint what you see in front of you", but they are all like, "It must be THIS way and THIS size and THIS color and must be drawn from THIS angle". Everyone's art ends up looking pretty much the same, and no one is allowed to express their different artistic talents.
On another note, we are not allowed to talk about any kinds of holidays. If you are even caught uttering the words "Christmas" or "Halloween", they will suspend you. Their excuse is that it could offend someone. More like offending THEM.
And they all tell you what you HAVE to wear, and if you don't you will either end up in detention or be a social reject.
At least, that's how public schools are in Rhode Island.

Answer 6

I think we stifle kids creativity. Many schools are cutting out art and music programs.

Answer 7

I graduated in 1992 and I was "stiffled" as you put it. I used to be quite the artist (if I may so myself) until I was relocated to Minnesota... I was in Nat'l Art Honor Society and had won several High School art shows while I was still in Junior High. The art teacher in Minnesota didn't like my concepts and gave me crappy grades and even talked to my parents about how my "level of artwork" declined. Maybe it did... cause I was tired of being told how art should look!
BTW, its not like I was pissing on a piece of paper and calling it art! I did alot of Pen and Ink portraits and a combination of Pen and Ink and Airbrushing.

Answer 8

schools need kids to perform well in order to stay off "failing school" listings & preserve funding levels. this is accomplished by drills & plenty of repetition. there's not much room for creative thought when you are teaching to the test.