RS5 - Ted Talks

   Ken Robinson spoke at a conference about education and how school can be a major factor on the students creativity. I believe education is all about preparing children for the future but also to guide them to pursue things that they value the most and would benefit them the most in their future.  

   As Ken Robinson said in his presentation, I agree that school is educating students out of their creativity.  You go to any elementary school, middle school, high school, and most colleges you will find that the mathematics, languages and humanities all come before the arts.  The arts is where you can let your creativity take over and do things you really cant in most classes.  You can express yourself in paintings, plays, musicals, and dances.  In the other classes you are given strict rules to follow and have equations to memorize and aren't given the chance to be who you really are.  In dance, art, and music you can let lose and be your true self and not have a care in the world.  You can write your own lyrics and draw your own art and not have someone tell you that you are wrong.  But in math if you mess up the equation you are wrong and you have failed.  Making mistakes in the arts can sometimes lead to something extraordinary.  And that is what will make you who you are, there are no right or wrongs. The arts allow you to be creative, and to most people I know, when they are being creative they are happy and in a great mood.  And for one to be successful in their future you need to help and guide them to that happy place, their special god given talent.

    Education is preparing students for the future, its about paving the path for the child to learn and grow.  Educating a student for the future is pretty difficult because as Ken said, you can only predict the future for about 5 years down the road.  And who knows what material you teach them will still be valid by the time they enter the work force.  Education to me is about giving the student skills to have mental toughness, and good decision making skills.  Its not about finding square routes and being able to name all the planets in the solar system, education is about figuring out what is important and what is irrelevant.  Education is about guiding the student in the direction that will best fit them.  Whether is a difficult road or an easy road to pave, you do the best you can because the decisions you make as an educator may affect the choices the student makes.  

   Education is one of the most key things in a young students life.  Its about giving the student the support he or she needs to become successful in the path that they chose.  I believe education is all about preparing children for the future but also to guide them to pursue things that they value the most and would benefit them the most in their future.