ExchangeEveryDay Past Issues

THE EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM IS NOTHING MORE THEN A WAREHOUSE THEY ENTER IT AT A REQUIRED AGE THEY HAVE A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF TIME TO PREFORM WITHIN IT WHEN THE CHILDREN IN MY CARE LEAVE FOR THIER MANDATORY EDUCATIONAL CAREER THEY ARE FORCED TO LEAVE THEIR INDIVIDUALITY BEHIND WHICH IS THE SOURCE OF THEIR CREATIVITY WHEN ALL THE CHILDREN ARE LABELED AS ONE (A GRADE ) WHAT HAPPENES TO THE PASSIVE LEARNER THE MOBILE LEARNER THE HANDS ON LEANRER??????? THEY ARE NO LONGER !!!!!!! CHILDREN NEED PLAIN OR BLANK PAPER THEY SHOULD NOT BE ASKED OR REQUIRED TO STAY WITHIN THE LINES OF A COMERCIAL COLORING BOOK

i would like to update on early childhoold education initaitives and want to be particiapte in events

I believe so too that schools kill or stifle creativity. Too often we mould children into what we want them to be other than what they could become creatively as in the analogy/fable of the animal school where all animals are made to follow a general curriculum until they all become average- seals can run and the hare can swim averagely.

My personal experience with my own children attests to this. My two children now 10 and 8 attended a child care centre that applied the the emergent curriculum and incorporates the Reggio curricullum and specifically use the arts as a medium in their play-based philosophy. They actually had a teacher trained in the arts on staff to foster these experiences for children. When they had their art gallery/exhibition, it was such a joy and fascinating to see children's imagination on display. Thus, my children loved and thrived in their creativity at this centre. When they were leaving the centre one staff member made sure she kept one of my son's paintings and commented, 'So when you become a famous artist, I will be proud to have one of your works'

Unfortunately, everything changed when he started school. He hated the colouring sheets and the arts there was almost non existent. He eventually declared that art class was his worst class. I tried to enroll him in private art class but it was too expensive for me to continue do so at $45/hr. I tried to continue at home providing the environment but the harm has already been done. I wonder how different this would have been for them if they had continued with their Kindergarten experience at least until grade 3-age eight?

I believe so too that schools kill or stifle creativity. Too often we mould children into what we want them to be other than what they could become creatively as in the analogy/fable of the animal school where all animals are made to follow a general curriculum until they all become average- seals can run and the hare can swim averagely.

My personal experience with my own children attests to this. My two children now 10 and 8 attended a child care centre that applied the the emergent curriculum and incorporates the Reggio curricullum and specifically use the arts as a medium in their play-based philosophy. They actually had a teacher trained in the arts on staff to foster these experiences for children. When they had their art gallery/exhibition, it was such a joy and fascinating to see children's imagination on display. Thus, my children loved and thrived in their creativity at this centre. When they were leaving the centre one staff member made sure she kept one of my son's paintings and commented, 'So when you become a famous artist, I will be proud to have one of your works'

Unfortunately, everything changed when he started school. He hated the colouring sheets and the arts there was almost non existent. He eventually declared that art class was his worst class. I tried to enroll him in private art class but it was too expensive for me to continue do so at $45/hr. I tried to continue at home providing the environment but the harm has already been done. I wonder how different this would have been for them if they had continued with their Kindergarten experience at least until grade 3-age eight?

Fascinating! So much truth to this. Think of all those little ones that consistently disrupt "our" classrooms and daily schedules. (I say "our" classrooms, because too often adults dictate the daily schedule, lesson, routine, etc.)

Perhaps we aren't thinking outside of the box enough!

I do agree that creativity is no longer encouraged in many school districts and even in many preschool programs. The idea that all children conform to the norm should have ended many years ago, but I think this creates an uncomfortable environment for many teachers. They are not taught how to handle and encourage creativity in their students. The "No Child Left Behind" has taken the task of teaching to new levels of conformity the has stagnated the creativity of the learning environment. We now teach to the test and there is nothing creative about the standardized tests used to measure success. Even teachers that believe in creative teaching and child expolration are feeling the pressure to have their children perform on these tests. The number of ditto sheets used in preschool, kindergarten, and grades 1-3 are staggering and definately squash creativity on the child's part. Even the art projects that end in a wall covered with all the same results is sad. It teaches children at a very young age that their work should look like every other child's work. Even parents judge their child on the similarity of their work to that of other children. It is sad to say, but the lack of creativity even shows in our television shows and movies. I hope articles like this will have teachers, legislators, and parents re-evaluating how our children discover and learn.

This has been one of my favorite presentations ever. I watch the Utube version every couple of months. If only we could incite people to take it to heart and do something. I'm afraid quite the opposite is happening. When you visit preschools and elementary schools with their scripted curricula and mind-dulling tasks, you realize not only is there little room for creativity for children but no encouragement for teachers to have any authentic engagement with children to pursue real, meaningful ideas and questions. Thanks for sharing Ken Robinson's words.