Are Schools Still Killing Creativity?

Here’s the surprising truth — and the actionable next steps.

For generations, schools have always been vital for the upliftment of society, equipping more people to become eligible to seize the emerging employment opportunities provided by industrial revolutions, economic development, and free trade agreements. While the school system has helped billions of people, it also seems to have caused some unintended consequences.

Generations of people have been taught to think just like others. To mug up old knowledge — to fit in, rather than to stand out. The focus on compliance, conformity, and standardized tests helped the school system to survive, thrive and scale. Schools became ubiquitous, the curriculum became controlled, operations became streamlined, but changes continue to lag far behind the emerging demands of an ever-evolving society, every-changing economy, and ever-advancing technology. This has led to the creation of a system, where the late bloomers, the creative minded and budding innovators feel stifled. If you teach a fish to climb a tree, he will grow up thinking he is a misfit.

“If you teach a fish to climb a tree, he will grow up thinking he is a misfit.”

In his famous TED talk, Sir Ken Robinson asks, “Do schools kill creativity?”. The fact that this speech has the largest number of views among all published speeches, points to the scale of the problem globally. The problem is not with the school system itself. It is a lack of initiative among many to embrace continuous life-long self-education and personal development.

The problem is not with the school system itself. It is a lack of initiative among many to embrace continuous life-long self-education and personal development.

Most people just assume education is what you get in school and that their education ends with their final exam.

Most people just assume education is what you get in school and that their education ends with their final exam.

Have you learned what is relevant to the demands of your after-school life?

What did you miss learning?

What is the solution to close the gap?

In my experience coaching senior leaders, billionaire entrepreneurs, and high-potential executives, I have found the best leaders have one thing in common. They do not believe they know it all, they accept that they are a work in progress.

In short, great leaders embrace life-long education. Often, this is self-education.

As Jim Rohn says “Education helps you to make a living, self-education, help you make a fortune.”

The best leaders are still work in progress. This encourages leaders to seek mentors, coaches, and resources that continuously upgrade their knowledge.

The best leaders are still work in progress

This helps them to seek mentors, coaches, and resources that continuously upgrade their knowledge systematically for life.

Schools don’t complete your education, they can only get you started on a path of self-discovery

Call To Action

Periodically evaluate your current situation.

What have you learned recently? What is left to be learned?

How can you learn it? Who can help you?

How are you going to get started today and continue every day?

As Mahatma Gandhi says “Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you will live forever.”