This article highlights a current imbalance we have in our schools between standards and creativity. A quote from the center of the second page sheds light on part of the reason this imbalance exists: "Many educators associate creative characteristics with nonconformity, impulsivity, and disorganization." I believe, as the article states, that many educators, as well as politicians and people in our society simply do not understand creativity. Things that we do not understand well, we tend to shy away from, especially when it comes to teaching or explaining it to someone else. However, there are teachers out there that are teaching creativity in their lessons regardless of the standards in place. It is more of a challenge to teachers to develop creative lessons, especially considering the high-stakes testing they must prepare their students for.
Recently, I have heard from several sources about changes that are taking place in the curriculum in NC. The state is implementing new standards called "Core Curriculum" and there will be a greater focus on critical thinking and problem solving. This is intended to change the approach to teaching currently and I believe the goal is to help students develop in ways so they will be able to think for themselves. Perhaps this is an idea the author of this article would be in favor of. However, I have questions and concerns about this move for our educational system. Will there be appropriate funding to support this change? Will teachers receive support in the way of workshops and new lesson plan ideas? Or will teachers simply be told, here is how we will do things now, go forth and do....? These changes sound good in theory and like many ideas on paper, people read about them and think "I want my child to have that type of educaton". My concern is that if not properly supported, this idea will fail for our students. Any change made in education, no matter how large or small, must be supported on multiple levels or it will simply not work.
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