TED Talk- "How Schools Kill Creativity"

Summary

Sir Ken Robinson’s “How Schools Kill Creativity” discusses what is wrong with educational systems today, because it stifles the creativity of students across the board. Robinson claims that all children are born with creativity, yet it is slowly diminished through modern schooling. 

("People.")

("Girl.")

Creativity is defined as the ability to make new things or think of new ideas by Merriam Webster Dictionary ("Creativity"). He argues, “My contention is all kids have tremendous talent, and we squander them pretty ruthlessly.” By using the story of Gillian Lyne, choreographer of The Phantom of the Opera and Cats, he displays his point. When Lyne went to school, they thought she had a learning disability. One day, her mother brought her to a specialist, who pointed out that Gillian was a natural dancer. Her mother took her to a dance school, and thus began her glorious life in dance. She went on to choreograph two of the most well known productions on Broadway. 

("Cats.")

("Phantom.")

“Somebody else might have put her on medication and told her to calm down,” Robinson explains, “...Our education system has mined our minds in the way that we strip mine the Earth for a particular commodity- and for the future that won’t serve us." Additionally, he believes that the system follows a hierarchy- first is math, then the humanities, while the arts are always last. He mentions that there is not one school in the world that teaches dance daily, as math is taught so rigorously at most ("How"). By using modern examples, Sir Ken Robinson is able to convey his opinion on the education system of today during his speech, “How Schools Kill Creativity”.

Response

Sir Ken Robinson’s “How Schools Kill Creativity” accurately discusses the problems with the educational system, because the pressure put on kids in school stifles their creativity, ultimately leading to the death of their creative spirit altogether. Pablo Picasso once said, “Every child is an artist, the problem is staying an artist when you grow up” (“Why”). Picasso, one of the most revolutionary artists in history, embodied the same opinion as Robinson, though he was born in 1881 (“Pablo”). Robinson claims that all children are born with creativity, yet it is slowly diminished through modern schooling. He meticulously criticizes the educational system, “My contention is that all kids have tremendous talent, and we squander them pretty ruthlessly...” he goes on to say, “...children who are creative think they’re not, because the school they went to did not value what they were good at” (“How”). 

("SKR.")

A study conducted by Adobe revealed the need for creativity in the classroom. 54% of educators in the United States said that the reason they have trouble integrating creativity in the classroom is because it is not valued in the current educational system, though the demand for creative thinking is increasing (“Adobe”).

("Adobe.")

Robinson claims in his video that the only way to fix the problem is to rethink education entirely. 

The drastic changes in the market, such as not needing a degree to acquire a normal job, 

encourage the integration of creativity into the classrooms of today. 

("How.")

“Economically successful countries will hold competitive and comparative advantages over other 

economies, though a single country rarely specializes in a particular industry” (“How Education”). 

In order for nations to become economically successful, they must hold an advantage- such as the 

integration of creativity in education. Children must be encouraged, rather than discouraged, in 

their talents. By accurately analyzing the modern educational system during his speech, "How Schools 

Kill Creativity",  Sir Ken Robinson portrays the problem with the school system today, and 

addresses the ways to fix the problem.

Works Cited

"Adobe Featured Blogs News, Views and Conversations." Study Reveals Education System Is Stifling Creativity (Adobe Featured Blogs). Web. 16 Apr. 2014. <http://blogs.adobe.com/conversations/2013/06/study-reveals-education-system-is-stifling-creativity-education.html>.

"Cats Musical - Memory." YouTube. YouTube, 22 July 2007. Web. 15 Apr. 2014. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-L6rEm0rnY>.

"Creativity." Merriam-Webster. Merriam-Webster. Web. 15 Apr. 2014. <http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/creativity>.

"Girl Painting on Easel Clip Art." - Girl Painting on Easel Image. Web. 15 Apr. 2014. <http://www.mycutegraphics.com/graphics/art/girl-painting-on-easel.html>.

"How Education And Training Affect The Economy." Investopedia. Web. 16 Apr. 2014. <http://www.investopedia.com/articles/economics/09/education-training-advantages.asp?utm_source=investing_education&utm_medium=website&utm_content=seetxt&utm_campaign=3_educational_systems>.

"How Schools Kill Creativity." Ken Robinson:. Web. 15 Apr. 2014. <http://www.ted.com/talks/ken_robinson_says_schools_kill_creativity#t-1076960>.

"Pablo Picasso." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 15 Apr. 2014. Web. 15 Apr. 2014. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pablo_Picasso>.

"People Clipart.com." Angry Man Clipart Image. Web. 15 Apr. 2014. <http://www.people-clipart.com/people_clipart_images/angry_man_with_baseball_bat_0521-1012-0921-1546.html>.

"Phantom of the Opera." YouTube. YouTube, 26 June 2006. Web. 15 Apr. 2014. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ej1zMxbhOO0>.

"SKR on Make A Gif." MakeAGif. Web. 16 Apr. 2014. <http://makeagif.com/WdpJw3>.

"Why Creativity Is The Most Important Quality You Have." Elite Daily. Web. 16 Apr. 2014. <http://elitedaily.com/money/entrepreneurship/creativity-important-quality/>.