<p>"The only “art” class I’ve ever taken now is Guitar I, and I feel as if I’ve missed out on a subject that I could have strived in</p>
<p>So take classes in college, community college, community centers or teach yourself via books, etc. I haven’t taken art class in school since 6th grade, but have taken art classes as an adult over 50. I learned that much of what I had thought was others having natural talent was their having had good instruction. </p>
<p>Same is true of dance, musical instruments, singing, etc.</p>
<p>I don’t know if the study is accurate but I wouldn’t be surprised by the conclusion that many American kids are less creative. </p>
<p>I agree with the posters who said K-12 schools are more focused on getting information into the kid than fostering creativity and this is probably as it should be to a large extent. People need the basic tools learned in K-12. I don’t think schools are the issue.</p>
<p>I do think video games for many are a scourge and counter to creativity as is television with 200 channels of programming and organized activities (sports, music, community service, etc.) that consume any other free moment. Too many kids have little truly free time to be creative, to lay there and look up at the sky and think, to wonder about some of the things around them, to solve problems on their own.</p>
<p>Unfortunately it’s the parents who enable this. It’s the parents who buy the high end video gaming systems, who buy the televisions for the kid to have in their own room, who sign up the kid for all the various organized activities and cart them around. Parents need to think about what they’re doing with their kids and whether just spending more money on them for things and activities is really the best think for the kid.</p>
<p>I just graduated from high school, and I agree with this article. However, some teachers are trying to get the creativity back into us. We’re glued to technology day in and day out, and we have an exact, fixed schedule and know exactly how many minutes it takes us to get from Point A to Point B.</p>
<p>Anyway, one English assignment that has stood out to me was simply, “Write a letter.” There were no other instructions, and the teacher refused to give us any more ‘hints’ as to how to go about writing a letter. She did say, however, it was an ‘effort’ assignment since she wasn’t giving us guidelines. Some of us wrote love letters, some emulated college acceptance letters, and one person even wrote a letter using Old English.</p>
<p>When we turned our assignments in, only one person had done it the way our teacher meant for us to do it. She wrote the letter, “A.”</p>
<p>speedsolver–that’s sad. I loved the “letter using Old English” idea and was so disappointed to find the assignment was to write–a single LETTER? sheesh.</p>
<p>speedsolver, I have a hard time believing that the real message your teacher wanted to convey was the there was one and only one right “answer” to that assignment. How could there be?</p>
<p>@nysmile, I agree that I should have started experimenting with art at a younger age, but by the time I realized that benefit of it, I was immersed in school work that I could barely finish as it was. I have been trying to do more craft related activities, but I just don’t have any background on how to draw, paint, etc. I have been lucky enough to have a strong foundation in music, however. I hope to be able to take more art classes in college.</p>
<p>I was fortunate to have a mother who encouraged my artsy-craftsy side. She let me glue with flour-water paste when I was little, and we kept a box of “stuff” that would be useful for crafts & art projects. When my D was little I did the same. I always knew where to find string, popsicle sticks, glitter, pipe cleaners, and so forth.</p>
<p>I agree that there’s not enough emphasis on creativity these days, but I also believe that it’s foolish to place ‘creative’ assignments where they don’t belong.</p>
<p>Academic classes (other than art) shouldn’t assign students to do drawings or stuff like that with serious intentions. Granted, sometimes drawings are indeed called for (diagramming in science classes), and sometimes it’s fun to have the chance to do something creative in English class. But those shouldn’t be assigned in lieu of learning or instruction, as they often seem to be.</p>
<p>This could be unique to my school system, but if it’s a nation-wide trend, I think it’s foolish.</p>
<p>noimagination–of course. The best engineers are creative. </p>
<p>I think the point is, kids don’t “mess around” with real objects the way they used to years ago. Whether it’s taking apart an engine, building a go cart from scraps, or making an art project, it’s hands on experience that you don’t learn from watching TV or playing video games. Not to mention the negotiating skills that you learn from planning and executing projects with your siblings or neighborhood kids!</p>
<p>When we were bored, my mother always said, “It’s good to be bored sometimes. Then you’ll come up with ideas for things to do.”</p>
<p>I sometimes think art projects in history or English are just there to allow slower brains a chance to earn a good grade, and get non-artists out of their comfort zone! </p>
<p>That being said, in many fields, it is important to be able to make presentations with visual aids.</p>
<p>I sit here smiling ear to ear as I read this thread. My youngest son, 13 years old, will never be “smart” enough to need to read College Confidential. He has developmental delays as well as behavioral issues due to fetal alcohol syndrome (he’s adopted). He has a language IQ of 40. This being said, he is one of the most creative young men I have ever met. This summer he dug a hole about 4 feet diameter and then built a huge teepee on top of the hole using downed tree branches from our woods. The teepee was tied together at the top using old baling twine. He then proceeded to build fencing all around his little “fort” again using branches and twine. It is absolutely beautiful! The funny thing is that he doesn’t play in it - his play is in building it and adding new things to it ie roads are “built” by spreading dirt that he has shoveled and carried to the new “roads.” He has been working on this for over a month and is constantly “renovating.” So to all of you, thank you for letting me take great pride in my “special” son and reminding me of what he IS able to do, rather what he is not able to do:)</p>