Without getting into the recent controversy surrounding the insanity within the TED organization itself i just wanted to post this video imPsimon made me aware of in another thread.. I thought it was really thought provoking and funny, despite the main points probably being pretty obvious to this crowd

Do schools kill creativity?

Hell yes they do. Man, school was a prison for me.


"Our minds have been mined like the minerals from the Earth"


Very interesting, indeed. Thanks for the video!

Valid points indeed...
But knowing and understanding doesn't overshadow imagination and inspiration.
Think: you take physics and apply it to your view of the world...maybe project yourself into a future where what you learned is outdated.

A lot can change by going to school...if you limit your focus on school itself then maybe the rest of life goes out of focus.

I remember ever since i was in my early teens this Mark Twain line has stuck in my head

"never let schooling interfere with your education"

That was fantastic. Funny, informative and quite true.
(Forwarding this to the teachers I know)

I looked at the curriculum for primary/secondary schools in the uk and they still put the emphasis on academia over music/art/design. I don"t remember doing music at my seconadary school at all, or design and technology (i dont think technology had been invented when i was at school).
I also think it depends on what teachers you have and how they present information to you. I do think that moving more towards the creative side of things would be more advantageous for the general population.
I dont really get the argument of "you"re not likely to become a professional musician so do more maths". If i was working in a factory all day, i"d take an o-level in guitar playing over o-level maths anyday. I find it therapeutic to come home from a days mundane work and create, whether i become a pro or not.
On the other hand i found science difficult and boring when i was at school but the fundamentals of my main job are centred around it, i now find it interesting and wish i had applied myself more when i was younger.
I enjoyed the video.

heheh, i sent it to some of my professors..they'll get a kick out of it

I think it depends totally on the teachers you have.

In general, the US public school system (which is the one I know best) is pretty mind-numbingly conformist and controlling. All of those standardized tests where a tremendous waste of time, but it wasn't all bad.

I was lucky enough to have several incredibly gifted teachers who taught me physics, government and theatre in endlessly creative and interesting ways. I owe most of who I am as an artist to my high school theatre teacher who gave me and my class a space to be incredibly self-motivated and creative over the course of the four years we spent together.

The public school system has a LOT of flaws, but it isn't all automatons turning children into sheep to work for 'the man.' There are a lot of positive influences there too.

True, the government seems to be working hard to stamp them out, but I hope that they stick around and there are enough young people in the up-and-coming generation who are passionate enough about learning that they'll opt to become teachers, even in the currently harsh climate.