In the most viewed TEDTalks presentation, Sir Ken Robinson argues that we are all born with natural creativity capabilities, but that our education system suppresses these capabilities. Robinson and many others, following his 2006 presentation have raised issue with the education systems of the modern world, suggesting they are too standardised and stifle creativity, imagination and curiosity in the development of children. In his talk, Robinson highlights that upon entering education, children are not afraid of being wrong; fuelling their creativity as they are unafraid of developing original ideas for fear of wider opinion. It is through stigmatising mistakes in our modern education systems that children lose this boldness and therefore their creativity is impaired. As Robinson suggests, education leaves no room for mistakes, reducing children to “test-taking machines” and squandering the talents of those who do not fit the idea of academic importance.

As by modern education’s standards subjects such as Mathematics, Languages and the Sciences are prioritised over Arts subjects such as Dance and Music. Moreover those children who are less able at the former and more able at the latter are made to feel inadequate by today’s standards as they do not excel in the subjects deemed useful for “getting a job”. Robinson also questions the notion that the education system is in place to aid in finding a career based solely on academic ability, suggesting that those who do follow and excel in all the academic channels which are pushed on to us are limited to the career of a University Professor, while there are opportunities for success outside of the academic infrastructure for those who maintain their creativity. Robinson puts forward that both children’s academic and creative ability should be nurtured and encouraged to develop, rather than simply “educating the creativity out of children”.

http://www.ted.com/talks/ken_robinson_says_schools_kill_creativity?language=en#t-541270 By Leyla Sakiroglu, Haberdashers Askes Knights Academy