And then I shrugged... (4/8/2014)

And then I shrugged... 04/08/2014 0 Comments    This has been on my mind for the past two months, and now I feel it is time to explode in this space...if you don't mind.     I was asked about an article that mentioned that the American education system was ruining children's creativity. This is what I briefly wrote.        It does appear that the public school education system is limiting the creative potential of children. It is forcing teachers to become dictators and disciplinarians. Everyone is in fear of losing their position, and as such they take an abbreviated role less as a teacher and more as a conduit for the "system". This, at least, has been what I have seen and heard from teachers in the past two months of subbing. They had no answers except to shrug and laugh. "O Brave new world that has such people in it" (Huxley, 1946, p.148).        Of course this means war...it has to! This society needs help. The youth of tomorrow are disconnected and it is hard to make them care. Is this what America is becoming. The buy-cheap era has made us indifferent to quality. We never have to wait for what we want and we no longer appreciate it when we get it. Materialism has consumed us, and its shallowness provides no comfort. What can we do? I  for one am not going to give up without a fight, because the quality of human life is in the balance. “I am convinced that creativity is a priori to the integrity of the universe and that life is regenerative and conformity meaningless” (Fuller, 1970, p.5).      Our society values creativity yet we medicate it away in our children. Children that do not get to have a creative childhood will make up the deficit later in life (this may be my opinion, but is worthy of a study). Look at the increase in adult cartoons and video games over the past decade-- what was once something to pass the time has become the bane of existence for teens and older (I know many in their 30's as self-proclaimed addicts). I am glad that the human need for creativity has pushed science and technology forward, but we could be closer to reversing aging now if a majority was not tuned out. I am sorry for these generalizations, but they make a point that this society has been marketed to be lazy, wanting and worthless. Food chains serve food devoid of nutrition, and they tell us how fun it is to eat it. We grow up eating poorly and then try to rely on a healthcare system that is in shambles and cannot maintain the population (I was in public health for a semester). We die by the hand of a moral-less system that is dog eat dog and demeaning. The term "loser" is American--across the ocean they use "unfortunate" to describe those who are poor or who made mistakes. Our system is a game that only rewards those that win. Creativity can help you win, but most of our schools will not help!        Here is a Ted talk that describes much of this:                      http://www.ted.com/talks/alain_de_botton_a_kinder_gentler_philosophy_of_success Are we evolving into Huxley's "Brave New World"? Promote mindfulness and creativity in our children. Show them the scientific method and critical thinking. Have them look for "awe" moments everyday. Have them care and wonder about the world. Have them want to figure it out. Show them what others have found out. Build bridges and connect individuals. Show them that we are all one as a race. Discuss the problems we all face. Teach them how to be self-sufficient and authentic. Watch and see them care about others, knowing that helping someone else also helps them. Complete the circle of life and find meaning in everything. Look up at the stars and realize you are part of them. Every household is a school. Fill in the deficit at home. References: Fuller, R. Buckminster, Jerome Agel, and Quentin Fiore. I Seem to Be a Verb. New York: Bantam, 1970. Print. Huxley, Aldous. Brave New World. New York: Harper & Bros., 1946. Print. "Live in the moment Breathe in a new beginning Wisdom revealed As I unlearn to learn Life's biggest battles Often are fought alone My spirit brings me home"                     John Petrucci "Breaking All Illusions"