Post by shelbysinkhorn on Aug 9, 2011 15:53:27 GMT -5
This article states that there is no definite reason behind the lack of creativity these days as the numbers seem to drop. Yet throughout the article they continuously seem to pinpoint the schools. But other then maybe the set curriculum or divided subject matter, nothing is stopping the individual schools themselves or even just the teacher for putting more effort into the lesson plans they make and incorporating more creative activities dealing with the subject matter. The article says that, “creativity scores had been steadily rising, just like IQ scores, until 1990,” but what else became affordable and bought in every household around this time? A computer. So does this mean the problem for the drop in creativeness could be found in the home rather than at school? Technology comes in multiple forms from the TV and video games, to the internet and cellphone. The article talks of how distinct types of free play in early childhood are associated with their creativeness later on in life. Stating, “Preschoolers who spend more time in role-play…voicing someone else’s point of view helps develop their ability to analyze situations from different perspectives. When playing alone…may act out strong negative emotions. The hypothesis is that play is a safe harbor to work through forbidden thoughts and emotions. …kids sometimes create paracosms…and even sometimes create languages spoken there.” So if these childhood experiences are so important to future creativity, is technology getting in the way? The author writes that the average age for a young child to create paracosms is 9 or 10, but if I look at the 9 and 10 year olds I know, I see they know how to fully work a computer, they have a cellphone, and they watch TV after school every day. So because technology is reaching out to younger age groups every year, could preschools soon possible not even have the experience of role-play or playing alone? Being consumed in technology like the rest of us? There are always solutions, like the parenting, waiting to give your child a cellphone till the end of middle school or even high school. But with crime rates, parents not being able to be in contact with them if need be, and the kids begging because they feel left out… very few parents wait. Technology consuming the household from an early age and the school only uses technology for learning and teaching, should the school take on the responsibility that once was the homes? Or is it not in the schools place to? School is for learning and as the article states many times creativity can be learned! Even past age 10. School is here not to make bench marks and get money for themselves; it’s about the student’s future. You don’t just need a hand full of math and scientific equations, knowledge of other places and languages, and a few books you read tucked away in your brain. You need ways to use them, combine them, and create things never thought of, to use, make, invent, do, or anything. The article provides perfect examples where you would need both what the school DOES give you, and creativeness. Stating, “all around us are matters of national and international importance that are crying out for creative solutions, from saving the Gulf of Mexico to bringing peace to Afghanistan to delivering health care.” So why have people come out of high school all being the same person, lack of creativeness, all with the same train of thought? Especially when you could have students coming out of high school and going into a production of something original and useful. We have a crisis, a creativity crisis, and we have to use the creativeness we have left to save the overall creativity!