Destroy all the creativity! (let's not)

11 December 2014 Unknown 0 Comments

Here's a story on how we inadvertently destroy creativity in children. This is especially endemic in public schools.

On the first day of school, the little boy waved to his mother and turned to run down the bright hallway to class. His teacher smiled and pointed out his desk. “This is going to be great,” he thought. “I love to learn new things.” After a few fun stories, the teacher handed out crayons and paper and announced that it was time to draw a picture. The little boy enthusiastically grabbed the crayons and began to imagine all the things he could draw: mountains, lakes, airplanes, his family, his dog, the ocean, the stars at night…

Hundreds of ideas raced through his creative little mind. His teacher, seeing that he had started drawing, stopped him and said that today the class would be drawing flowers. The boy’s mind again ran wild: daisies, daffodils, roses, carnations, violets, lilacs, pansies, mixed bouquets, green gardens full of rainbows of colors…

The teacher again interrupted, informing the class that today they would be drawing a certain kind of flower. 

Taking colored chalk, the teacher went to the board and drew a green stem, with two leaves, and four identical pink petals. The little boy, eager to please, dutifully copied her drawing.

After several attempts, his drawing looked exactly like hers. The teacher congratulated him for doing such good work.

As the school year passed, the little boy became a very good student; he learned to listen, obey instructions and get the right answers on tests. His parents were very proud of him, and his teacher was impressed with his excellent progress.

When the next school year arrived, the boy had done so well in his classes that he was enrolled in an accelerated program. During the first week of class, the teacher handed out crayons and paper and announced that it was time to draw a picture. The little boy, still in love with art, enthusiastically picked up his crayons and waited for instructions.

After several minutes the teacher noticed that the little boy wasn’t drawing. “Why haven’t you started?” she asked. “Don’t you like to draw?”

“I love to draw,” responded the little boy, “but I was waiting for you to tell us what the assignment is.”

“Just draw whatever you want,” the teacher smiled and left the little boy to his creativity.

The little boy sat for a long time, watching the minutes tick off the clock and wondering what he should draw. Nothing came to mind.

Finally, in a burst of creative inspiration, he picked up his crayons and began to draw:

A green stem, with two leaves, and four identical pink petals.

It's taken from the book A Thomas Jefferson Education by Oliver DeMille where he cites it from a story called The Little Boy by author unknown (though it is often attributed to Helen Buckley he says).

This is such a sad story. Public school isn't the only place this happens, but it feels like they are purposefully edging out art and creativity in favor of science, math, and engineering.

I understand why the world is leaning towards STEM education. Computers and technology are the new hotness and that's where the future is and all that, but without art, STEM-only people will steer us in the wrong direction.

What's your take on this story? Sad or necessary?