Art by Bella Peterson
Resources
Pierson, R. (2013, May 3). Rita Pierson: Every kid needs a champion: Ted. YouTube. Retrieved September 26, 2022, from https://youtu.be/SFnMTHhKdkw
Rita Pierson, a teacher for 40 years, presents her Ted Talk as a motivating speech to educators to believe in their students and actually connect with them on a real, human, personal level. One of the things she says in her talk is, “Kids don’t learn from people they don’t like.” It’s so simple yet so true, if a teacher comes into school each day just for a paycheck, they are going to have a strenuous career. However, if a teacher teaches by building relationships and constructing from what they have seen, heard, and done, they will earn students’ trust and respect, making it easier for them to want to listen.
TEDtalksDirector, director. Why Schools Need to Embrace Kids' Creativity | Sir Ken Robinson. YouTube, YouTube, 21 June 2021, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g4IAa8wZlqU. Accessed 4 Dec. 2022.
Sir Ken Robinson talks about the importance of creativity for kids and schools need to embrace it more. Art's value is to develop learners who think like Artists which means learners who are creative, and curious, that seek questions, develop ideas, and play. However, for that to happen society will need to stop the problematic messaging that implies there's no room for one to be creative. Educating creativity out of kids in a way encourages them to stop thinking, follow whatever is given, and not question. Most education systems aim for students to have perfect scores and to be successful in life in the sense that it helps the economy to prosper but that isn't what education is really about, right?
There needs to be a shift in perspective that will give educators the courage to teach creativity. This change can make way for creativity to be more encouraged in our schools and where ideas and curiosity are embraced.