A Sir Ken Robinson Tribute – Are Schools (Still) Killing Creativity?

Are schools killing creativity?

That was the provocative headline of my first ever TED talk I watched in 2007 by Sir Ken Robinson. This most-viewed TED Talk, topping with sixty-sixty million views, would lead to the foundational work that I embark on today. Unfortunately, the beloved Sir Ken Robinson passed away on August 21st, 2020. He left that question still profoundly resonating in our faces as we endure the most trying times in our nation’s history.

Are our schools really killing creativity?

The answer is yes.

As a person who once was a student in the educational system and became an award winning teacher within the same system, it is very hard for me to state this truth.

But it is true.

This costly truth affects creative thinking, which is now the top needed skill in the workforce, and in our financial success. Creativity is also the main way we are going to climb out of this pandemic. 

Before I share why Robinson’s statement is still valid, let’s make sure we’re working with the same functional definition of the term ‘creativity.’

Creativity does not solely mean the arts, rather it is the process of problem finding and problem solving with relevance, value and novelty. The arts can and is a part of it and can certainly improve your creative thinking skills in non-artistic areas, but creativity is not only the four arts- music, dance, visual art and theatre.

Creativity isn’t some hocus-pocus phenomenon that just happens to a few of us and the rest of us are left to muddle in uninspiring ideas or a trite existence. It’s actually a set of cognitive skills that can be strengthened, like buffing up your biceps. It gets stronger the more you work at it. 

The only issue is that those cognitive exercises and culture needed to support creative growth are usually not present in everyday classrooms. This is especially true as a child matriculates into the higher grades and into their professional lives. Don’t forget my tagline – ‘Your creative health affects your financial wealth.’ Creative thinking has a direct impact on your financial well-being.

Creative Thinking Exhibits:

Unique Reflection of Individualized Talents

Divergent Thinking (ability to produce many ideas)

Lateral Thinking – (there’s more than one way to more than one solution)

Curiosity & Wonder – (time to think and imagine)

Transforming Ideas Through Various Mediums (This is where the arts comes in)

Openness To a Variety Experiences

Multi-Disciplinary Thinking (Getting Out of Silos and Connecting Across Fields)

Creative Production of Ideas from Academic Knowledge

Yet Most Schools Provide:

Rote Memorization and Knowledge Mastery

Only Convergent Thinking

Over Reliance on Standardized Testing & GPA

Ignoring Other Intelligences

Lack of Soft Skills and Arts

Stigmatizing and Penalizing Mistakes

Rare allowances for new productions

Sir Ken Robinson warned us how our school systems are still focused on ‘factory style production of compliant workers’, and not on creative thinkers and innovative risk takers. It has been his mission for decades to shift the focus of schools, but no clear solution (or solutions) has been implemented. 

Now, with this pandemic, a response is needed more than ever. Time is of the essence. This is a year of shifting. So, we can now shift from saying we want our students to be ‘critical thinkers’ to promoting ’creative critical thinkers’ who produce original ideas that have value.

Our children deserve to have these skills in place and it all starts with creative thinking in the classroom.

Therefore, Sir Ken, as you are laid to rest this week, I salute you. 

I salute you for speaking up and not backing down. I salute you for challenging us to rethink the term ‘education’.

I am urged to pick up where you left off and I pray that I do your work justice for the betterment of us all.

May you rest in peace and in your creative genius….