Sir Robinson's Outlook on Education

I agree very much with Sir Robinson's opinion on the education system. He points out that in the hierarchy of education that things such as mathematics and languages are at the top, while the arts are always at the bottom. It's like this every where in the world, not just in one education system. He goes on to discuss how mathematics and languages are not the most important things in education. Sure they are important, but who's to say that they are any more important than the arts.

His main ideal was that children have extraordinary capacities and so much creativity in them but that the creativity is educated out of them. The focus is put so much on the subjects like math and science and absolutely no emphasis is put on the arts such as drama or dancing. He talks about how when children are at a very young age they aren't afraid to make mistakes or say the wrong thing, but as they gradually get older they are more and more afraid to make mistakes and do or say the wrong thing. A quote by him was "if you're not prepared to be wrong, you'll never come up with anything original."

Creativity should never be limited with children or as they grow into young adults. If math and science are to be required in school why shouldn't a dancing or acting class be required? Arts shouldn't be at the bottom of the hierarchy, they should be at the same level as math and languages. I understand how hard it is to be afraid to do or say the wrong thing. I'm a pretty shy person and I don't want to sound ignorant or dumb in class so sometimes I just don't talk at all. I have never thought this was a good thing though. Being afraid to be wrong can hold you back from learning some of the most useful information out there.

I think Sir Robinson's talk was great. I agree completely that creativity is pretty much driven out of children and the process is kept up throughout their education. Creativity should be valued just as much as being able to do the hardest math problem. Sometimes creativity is the only way to succeed in other subjects and should be valued that way. As a teacher you should never hold your children back from thinking or coming up with new ideas and as a teacher you should encourage your students to be creative.