Brewing Knowledge: Monika Vaishnav: Do Schools Kill Creativity?
First, we have to understand ‘What is creativity?' Creativity is the use of one's imagination and new ideas to generate something new. I believe that all the children are blessed with creativity in different areas. But some time due to the formal education system, syllabus completion and a shortage of time, the children do not get a chance to show their creativity and in this way, their creativity is killed. They should be motivated to write, draw, sing and speak on their own using their imagination and original thought.
A school must focus on co-curricular areas where the child can use his creativity to improve his skills in a better way. He should be allowed to think in his own way. The teacher should teach them how to think, not what to think. The children can develop their skills and do their best using their imagination and original ideas. Their creativity makes them unique and helps them to develop their personality. A teacher should understand that every child has different qualities and thinking. So, their responses and area of interest will also be different. So we should understand them and help them to grow their creativity in a positive way. If any school does not work in this way, they definitely kill their creativity. I feel that the school like The Fabindia School does not kill the creativity of a child.