Good thing I'm not a professional blogger ... I would starve to death from lack of payment for posts. That would be because I HAVE no posts! I am sorry. Life just gets in the way so often! But I had to give you something interesting to read--it's interesting AND highly alarming all at once. If you have time, do also click on the link within the post where he mentions a "previous essay," because that one is also excellent (although, as a caveat, I'm not big on "self-directed schooling." I am big on the idea that we've made receiving an "A" into something it was never intended to be). This gentleman is addressing some of the same concerns friends and I have discussed about how children are learning to view the world (or not learning, as the case may be. Good stuff! Here it is: http://www.creativitypost.com/education/as_childrens_freedom_has_declined_so_has_their_creativity
All I can say is, I'm certainly glad I can hear Emily in the kitchen making a "food experiment" (meaning she's trying to invent her own recipe for something-or-other), Steven putting together a new Lego set, and Mara teaching Sugar-the-cat how to count. Whew! We might be avoiding the Apocalypse here!
kristin
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Very interesting! I was noticing this just before I left teaching, although I am certain it is more noticeable now. I know schools play a role in this, but I believe parents are more the issue. When children see their parents in creative pursuits such as canning, learning to plow ;-], knitting, etc., the children are more likely to 'copy' that action. Same applies to reading, of course.
ReplyDeleteSo, there is no fear of your children being less creative!By the way, let me know how Mara does with the cat and counting thing ;-]!! Maybe Lady Jane can learn a trick! (As if royalty does tricks!!)RMW
I have not got the faintest idea why, but Blogger never emailed me to say that I had a comment waiting for moderation! Aarrrgh! I wasn't ignoring you, really -- the computer was. Electronics can be so rude!
DeleteI haven't noticed this particular issue in my teaching; I suspect largely because: a) I'm teaching older kids, who are less likely to 'play' and b) I'm not teaching creative writing, I'm teaching academic writing where I don't see lapses in creativity quite as much. BUT I feel that there seems to be a lot more "Huh??" when we finish reading a story or essay than there used to be -- as in, a fair number of the class don't have any idea what's happened. Particularly with a story like "Roman Fever" (you started me on that one, remember?), where there's a real twist at the ending. And maybe that reflects less ability to picture what's happening as well as less ability in reading comprehension.
You relieve my mind about my children having imagination! :) What I REALLY love is when Em and Steven and Mara do things creatively that I can't do! (Or Scott can't do, for that matter.) It's so fun to see their individual gifts come out.
Happy Sabbath! Love, kristin