Ken Robinson

In his twenty minute speech, Ken Robinson challenges the educational system’s polluted view of a child’s creativity. The system squanders creativity, viewing it as a distraction as opposed to a vital component to true innovation and success. Creativity, according to Robinson, should be held to as high a level of importance as literacy.

Robinson states, “Education takes us into a future we cannot predict.” If there is no room for creativity, there is no room for growth and adaptation! How can we expect the children of today to succeed and carry the weight of the nation on their shoulders if we don’t allow them to think creatively?  We are being educated out of creativity, and in turn, out of a hopeful future.  

According to Robinson, there is a hierarchy of education that was developed in the 19^th century to satisfy industry. This hierarchy of education is quite skewed. It is based off of two factors; #1 – the usefulness of the subject, #2 – academic ability. The hierarchy is as follows:

-          Math and Languages

-          Humanities

-          Arts (Music being the most respected of the arts, followed by photography, painting etc., with dance at the bottom.)

In modern times, anything less than a PhD isn’t worth anything. This is the result of academic inflation.

Intelligence is diverse, dynamic, and distinct. We all learn differently, we process information differently, and we all use different methods to understand concepts. What does that mean? It means that in order to learn in a way that works for us as individuals, we are going to require creativity. The skewed hierarchy, continual academic inflation, and unbending idea of what education ‘should be’ are squashing our creativity, our children and our future!

We must embrace and encourage creativity if we want the children of this generation to succeed! BE CREATIVE, BE INSPIRED, BE ORGINIAL!