Archaically Artistic

In my spare time (what little I do have of it!) I draw. I wouldn't call myself an artist, as I do it only for myself, but drawing is just something I do. Its my creative outlet.

I found out that I could draw when I decided to take Visual Arts in Year 11. Having not done any art theory since Year 8, I thought I'd be in way over my head. Turns out, not only did I love it, I was alright at it too.

It was through school that I found my creativity - not just in visual arts but in my style of writing, my sense of humour and the way I present myself.

Perhaps this is because I went to school overseas, living in a unique expatriate environment during my formative teenage years. My primary schooling, however, was all completed in Australian public schools - where there were many more restrictions and pressures upon teachers at the time to teach certain content and 'tick off' syllabus dot points.

(That being said, the way I was taught to study for my HSC in 2008 was to go through the syllabus and study content related to each outcome - very telling of the way students are assessed in senior school.)

Sir Ken Robinson has long made the argument that 'schools kill creativity'. He known for his opinions on the unfortunate habit of schools to squash the creativity out of students through a 'production line' mentality that has existed since the industrial age.

I love watching these RSA Animate versions of speeches - much easier to concentrate!

Robinson argues that today's students are getting attention from every possible platform, and then we punish them for getting distracted. He states that schooling should be an aesthetic experience, an opportunity for creativity, yet we 'get them through it' rather than allowing them to experience it.

Robinson states that we 'manufacture' children rather that celebrating their uniqueness.

As much as we might like to think its all pherphies, that Sir Ken is full of it and we're doing fine,  take a look at the students in your class (or a child you know). Aren't the 'good' ones those who follow the rules, hand things in on time, put their hand up to be called upon and always have the right answer?

I'm sure many of us would give our A3 laminators to have a class full of these kids...but isn't that a bit boring?

Robinson talks about divergent thinking as a means of creativity - being able to consider an idea from multiple viewpoints. Isn't this a characteristic we like to encourage in all kids? (But only if they rule a margin in red pen first and write the date at the top of the page).

I think that one of the greatest ways for kids to express their ability to think outside the box is through art.

And when I say art, I don't mean colouring in.

I mean using artworks for the study of visual literacy. I mean creating an invention to help society. I mean something that cannot be finished in one afternoon session - something that requires research, practice and time to create.

When did art go from being a dedicated subject with a budget and specialist staff to 'something we just fit in, but only if we have time?'

Are we as schools stopping kids from realising their creative potential, unless they take art in secondary school?

Are we killing creativity?

(Share your ideas by commenting below)