Creativity

Johnny Jones, 19 October 1992

"Creativity is as common in small children as runny noses, and yet is quite rare in adults." Why? One of the reasons is due to their peers. "Peers in the school climate influence learning; in the case of creative students, their peer interactions do not seem to facilitate creative growth.

Let's look at this more specifically, by age. "In grades two through six, peer sanctions operate against the most creative children, and few are credited for their contributions to the group. They develop, therefore, a tendency to work alone." You may think this is pretty bad; actually, it is as good as it gets.

By sixth grade, "...highly creative children encounter open hostility, aggression, criticism, and rejection." At junior high age, things are even worse. "Creative students who are not intellectually gifted are discounted, with their ideas being considered wild and their behavior deviant and wrong."

Girls suffer more than boys from this. "Creative boys gain more acceptance from their peers...than creative girls. Is it any wonder that the more creative the students, the less they like school?"

Gifted students who are more talented with the left brain functions (logical thinking, math) are often more highly regarded by teachers and counselors than those with more creative abilities - even when their grades and achievements are similar. "School have concentrated their focus on the cognitive, left brain type of learning while devaluing and, in some cases, actually suppressing any use of the more holistic right brain function."

Why is this a problem? Because creative people are invaluable to us. "If society's problems are going to be solved, they will be addressed by creative people with creative ideas." How can the U. S. continue to compete world-wide if we discourage the creativity that has continued to lead us in developing products and ideas?

Philosophically, I believe the innate creativity put into each of us is a reflection of our Creator, God. I think each of us instinctively wants to use our originality to leave something to the world.

Here are some attitudes you want to guard against; ideas that STOP creative juices from flowing in lots of people.

* Everything you do must be useful. Cars, calculators, and rockets all started out as toys - ideas not for practical use, but for playing with. Without this willingness to fool around, we'll never come up with fresh ideas.

* Everything must be successful. Failure scares many people from trying their useful ideas.

* Everything must be perfect. Giving someone the permission to fail often frees them.

* Everyone must like you. Creativity is often controversial. Not everyone liked Jesus. Expecting to get along well with everyone can subordinate principle and creativity.

* Don't rock the boat. So quickly the status quo becomes sacred! Just because something's established doesn't mean it's best.

Each one of us can give our children a precious gift: the courage to be themselves. Because "Creativity is the highest expression of giftedness."

(All quotes from Barbara Clark's Growing Up Gifted)