SHAVONISAPS.

“ALL CHILDREN ARE BORN ARTISTS. THE PROBLEM IS TO REMAIN AN ARTIST AS WE GROW UP”

Sir Ken Robinson’s ‘Do Schools Kill Creativity’ YouTube clip is one that urges us to encourage one’s creativity and flair rather than squander it. He makes some interesting points; posing the belief that in a modern day and age, we are educated out of our creative capacity. Robinson claims that we live in a world that stigmatises mistakes; where being wrong is the worst mistake that one can make. This in itself closes the door to creativity and imagination, moving us into a world where there is only black and white, yes and no, 1+1=2.

Personally speaking, I think we are educated out of creativity because it puts us in a position that enables us to create endless possibilities. Our imagination and talents are squandered by modern education because we are fearful- fearful of the future and how it will play out. Therefore, we are cultured into careers of mathematics, science and humanities in order to take us into the future (a future that we cannot grasp, but are attempting to).

I found Robinson’s perception of children to be interesting. He notes that kids will take a chance. They aren’t frightened of being wrong. He then goes on to point out that “if you’re not prepared to be wrong, you can’t reach creativity”.

That resonated with me.

If I’m to be truthful with myself, I completely agree with Robinson’s viewpoint. It’s important to branch out of my comfort zone; to test the waters. Throughout VCE, I have become accustomed to an education system in which there is only one answer and nothing in between, thus limiting imagination and creative flair.

I remember in High School, I would never answer questions in class because I was so afraid of being wrong. It got to a point where I would remain silent with my head bowed if a teacher posed a question. If Sir Ken Robinson were there, he’d tell me that I could never reach a state of creativity acting like that. I guess we all have a fear to be incorrect; the desire to be right being an innate part of all of us.

I think it’s important for us to revert back to the mentality of our childhood and gain back the ability to be unafraid of being wrong.  By doing so, Robinson points out, “the gifts of human imagination [will enable us to] see our creative capacities for the richness they are.