Maxi-Taxi seems to be struggling a bit with learning to read and write. We’re doing OT and the ‘D word’ has been tentatively raised, but it’s early days for him and I’m expecting the best. I have a tendency to do that to my detriment, but I’m hoping this is not one of those times. He is such a bright, charming, imaginative little fellow that I can’t help but feel that he will find his way through. I will be patient.
His struggle has also got me thinking about the way we learn to learn. In particular I keep going back to an amazing TED talk I viewed a few months ago by Sir Ken Robinson on creativity. He instantly struck a chord in me and I realised just how important it is to nurture creativity – in whatever form it takes in each individual.
How easy it is to credit rote learning, when it really isn’t learning at all. It’s like getting good grades for memory retention. How this leads to giving merit to the kinds of subjects that allow for rote learning, thereby setting children on a lifetime of judging ‘the arts’ as somehow inferior to ‘the sciences’. I’m sure Leonardo would disagree. And I know what kind of thinking and doing and living brings me the most happiness in my own life.
You really must take the time to watch this 20 minute talk. Sir Ken is goofy and funny and just so right about so many things. I’d be interested to hear what you think.
PartlySunny says
I don’t even need to listen to this to agree that schools (at least with regard to the rote memorization part) are killing creativity. Our kids are at a montessori school, and I think they’d be kind of screwed otherwise. Especially our son, who would be a disaster in a traditional learning environment but is thriving in a flexible place where he can move at his own pace and pursue subjects that he’s passionate about.
And on another subject, love your blog! So glad we connected. You should check out PowderRoomGraffiti.com (I write for them once in a while). I think you’d like it — international group/smart-ass women. Right up your alley:).
Heather says
I think every parent with young children should watch it. This is a topic close to my heart. I deliberated long and hard when it was time to send ella off to school. I was terrified that school would do just that…stifle that beautiful creative soul that she has. I believe it is my job to nourish and encourage this. I am not waiting for the education system to do it because I know it will not happen. I do not want her to fall behind in class hence we are doing the tedious sight lists etc. However my priority at the moment is that she and her brother spend time being kids. They play, imagine, craft, sometimes cook (sorry but that drives me crazy!!). I do not want them to lose that beautiful creative part of them (which I believe all children have) and I will do all that I can to hang on to it and allow it to continue to blossom. x
Seana Smith says
Ooh! Thank you, thank you, I hadn’t seen this TED talk before – it’s inspiring. My sister, the one who has gone sailing, home educated her twins for all of primary school. her daughter was very slow to read, she was 8 or 9 before she got going. In a school system she might have attracted a label, lost confidence etc At home she went at her own pace and is a terrific reader now.
Not that I am against labels per se, quite the reverse, but I’m glad my niece was able to learn at her own pace.
The kids rebelled and went to high school, but are now on the high seas for a year: art in Italy, history in Greece etc etc fab!
Life In A Pink Fibro says
I think there has to be some general learning of basics at school. Only by knowing the basics ‘by heart’ do you have the tools to fly. Which is why I’m glad – and I know I sound like someone else you know here – to see grammar back on the curriculum and spelling back in focus. It seems that it’s more important than ever to be able to communicate in the written form – when you know that what you’re saying is coming out how you intend, it’s easier to put the bells and whistles on.
But that’s just me, and just one form of creativity.
Thanks for Rewinding at the Fibro.
Mrs M says
This is one subject that I have had long discussions about trying to work out the best direction to take. And then I realised. School is only one part of my children’s learning. I can encourage to be as creative as they want to be when they are with me.
Visiting from Weekend Rewind.
Love & stuff
Mrs M
Jackie K says
I had not heard this talk before but it is fantastic. Very true about kids and creativity. With one of my girls I often think of that scene from the start of The Simpsons where Lisa goes off on her own tangent on the sax, the teacher angrily waves her out of the room, and she happily skips out playing her tune. I often think about how to encourage and nurture my daughter’s quirky creativity while also helping her to knuckle down and do what she has to to do well enough at school.
I found this post via the Fibro weekend rewind – this one is very timely for me with two girls in their first year at school.
Thanks!
Mila says
Yes, I do believe public schools diminish creativity and teaches that success comes from rote learning and conformity.
I think this is why it is so difficult for American students to adjust to college life, which champions individuality, creativity and leadership. In my own experience, even within the universities, there is more emphasis on logic and rationality, not creativity.
Thank you for the video. I enjoyed it very much.
Dropping in from Rewind to say hello. Mila from http://hereundertherainbow.blogspot.com/
Kim H says
Yes! I love this man! This is one of the main reasons I chose to unschool/homeschool my son. The result is that his creativity is so unique to who he is and he doesn’t seek approval for his work either. He has the inner confidence to know what he likes and doesn’t like in his own drawings and creations and he has the freedom to work on things for as along as he likes.
Also, I just wanted to mention that I think it’s really sad when kids who ‘struggle’ with academic stuff at school get labelled with a learning difficulty or worse. As a teacher prior to becoming a mumma, I was employed for much of my teaching time, to help kids with ‘reading difficulties’. Argh! All of those children were just not ready to read yet. They had other things they needed to do and they hadn’t yet connected with the need for reading or writing or spelling in their own lives. They were certainly not ‘learning challenged’ – far from it.
The problem with the school system is that reading is so crucial to every other element of school learning that takes place from the age of 5 or 6. Kids HAVE to be able to do it at such an early age otherwise they won’t be able to keep up with anything else. This is so detrimental to learning. Instead of labelling kids and having kids change to suit the system I think it’s time the system changes to meet the needs of the learner. It’s a big bee in my bonnet.
My son is 11 and he is only really now beginning to feel more confident in his reading. He certainly has not got a learning difficulty. He could chat with an adult about many, many topics and be equal in understanding and knowledge. But it’s only now that the need for him to read and spell better has hit him. It’s amazing to see it all just come together, just like that, with no formal school type learning at all.
I think we need to trust children a lot more and let them flourish in their creativity and play and develop, in their own time, their own sense of self-direction and passion. This will lead them to all of the other things they need to learn to be a capable member of society but without the stresses and turmoil and competition that schooly type learning, unfortunately, creates.
OK…stepping off my soap box now…;)