Creativity or Basic Academic Skills?
Ideally, what type of schools do we want, schools cultivating creativity or schools providing the basic academic skills and encouraging discipline? Which do you think Japan should prioritize? This lecture regards creativity as having original ideas that have value.
Although you may think most people prefer creativity, the results of research conducted by the Pew Research Center in the US show significant cultural differences toward education. The survey asked people in 19 countries to answer their priority: creativity or basic academic skills and discipline. In Spain, for example, 67 percent of people wanted schools to prioritize the teaching of creativity. In the UK, on the other hand, 51 percent prioritize the basics and discipline at school.
You may see creativity as important in education as literacy. However, some people point out that the education system in Japan does not treat them equally. For example, dance or art is not taught every day like mathematics. Why not? Does the value of mathematics outweigh that of creative activities? Creative activities bring out opportunities for showing and accepting other people’s originality. Without such experiences, children cannot be prepared to make mistakes, and they become frightened of being wrong.
Ideally, what type of schools do we want, schools cultivating creativity or schools providing the basic academic skills and encouraging discipline? Which do you think Japan should prioritize? This lecture regards creativity as having original ideas that have value.
Although you may think most people prefer creativity, the results of research conducted by the Pew Research Center in the US show significant cultural differences toward education. The survey asked people in 19 countries to answer their priority: creativity or basic academic skills and discipline. In Spain, for example, 67 percent of people wanted schools to prioritize the teaching of creativity. In the UK, on the other hand, 51 percent prioritize the basics and discipline at school.
You may see creativity as important in education as literacy. However, some people point out that the education system in Japan does not treat them equally. For example, dance or art is not taught every day like mathematics. Why not? Does the value of mathematics outweigh that of creative activities? Creative activities bring out opportunities for showing and accepting other people’s originality. Without such experiences, children cannot be prepared to make mistakes, and they become frightened of being wrong.