The Brain Drain in American Schools

I really liked reading this article "Creativity in Crisis: the 'Brain Drain' in American Schools". It's something I struggle with in my classroom. To be successful in a group setting my students have to learn to follow directions which leads to a lot of these types of projects which might make people cringe but I can tell you the kids really enjoy doing. I have found that my students like making something and seeing it "turn out" and actually look like something real. The problem is that when they start seeing projects like this they are less interested in doing their own art and are consistently wanting me to give them the "step by step". I like how this quote sums things up:

"Most adults, with our increasingly hectic schedules, assume that at least creativity is alive in our children when we send them off to drawing class or bassoon lessons. Yet most children’s time in the arts is spent either appreciating someone else’s art or learning the skill required to make the art, so that perhaps in the future one could be creative. This training sometimes leads to amazing technical skill. I have met more than a few children who can perfectly recreate a Dragonball-Z character or still-life bowl of fruit, but who struggle so to create an original character, story, technique, or idea."

And here is where homeschooling comes in the winner. If you didn't need to have a themed art project up in the hallways to make the principal and parents feel that things are on track you could absolutely let the children take the lead. That just isn't practical in a public school classroom setting. In my experience, teachers don't have the freedom to follow plans like the article outlines.

That being said even in a homeschool environment I do think there is a time and a place for children to have formal instruction in the arts as well. I just think that for young children their own artistic ideas should be at the forefront. In my classroom I try to strike a balance of both types of activities but I know it is not ideal. I loved this post from Wee Wonderfuls, showing the "dot a dots" her son made in school that she converted into a purse. That is awesome!

"Creativity requires teachers and students to put aside the textbooks and prescribed curricula and authentically engage children in learning."