Do schools kill creativity? | Sir Ken Robinson | TED

A speaker expresses amazement and humor at the event, joking about leaving.

Human Creativity The conference showcased extraordinary evidence of human creativity in various presentations and among the attendees, highlighting the vast variety and range of creative expressions.

Uncertain Future The conference has put us in a place where the future is unpredictable, leaving us with no idea how things will unfold. This uncertainty raises questions about what may happen next.

Education Stigma 'I have an interest in education' - this statement reflects that everyone seems to have an interest in education. However, there's a stigma associated with working in education as it often leads to awkward reactions at social gatherings when mentioned.

Education is a deeply important aspect for people, akin to religion and money. The future is unpredictable, yet we are tasked with educating children for it. Children possess remarkable capacities for innovation and creativity that should be valued as much as literacy in education.

The Little Girl's Drawing A little girl in a drawing lesson drew a picture of God. When asked about it, she confidently replied that people will know what God looks like in a minute.

James as Joseph The speaker's son played the part of Joseph in the Nativity play and was thrilled about it. During the play, there was an amusing mix-up with three boys bringing gifts to Jesus: gold, myrrh, and 'Frank sent this.' The story highlights how kids are willing to take chances even when they don't know something.

Being wrong is not the same as being creative, but the fear of making mistakes stifles creativity. Children are naturally unafraid of being wrong, but as they grow up, this capacity diminishes due to societal stigmatization of mistakes. National education systems also contribute to educating people out of their creative capacities by penalizing mistakes.

The speaker and his family moved from Stratford to Los Angeles. His 21-year-old son didn't want to come because he had a girlfriend in England, whom he considered the love of his life after knowing her for only a month.

Education systems worldwide follow a consistent hierarchy of subjects, with mathematics and languages at the top, humanities in the middle, and arts at the bottom. Within the arts category, art and music are prioritized over drama and dance. This raises questions about why certain subjects are given higher status than others.

The education system is based on academic ability, which was shaped by the needs of industrialism. This led to a hierarchy where practical subjects were valued over others. Many talented and creative individuals feel undervalued because their skills weren't prioritized in school.

The job market now demands higher academic qualifications, leading to 'academic inflation.' This calls for a radical rethinking of intelligence. Intelligence is diverse, encompassing visual, auditory, kinesthetic thinking and more. It's dynamic and interactive within the brain's structure.

Discovering Talent The speaker is writing a book called 'Epiphany' based on interviews with people who discovered their talent. He shares the story of Gillian Lynne, a choreographer, who was initially considered to have a learning disorder but later found her talent in dancing. This highlights the importance of recognizing and nurturing individual talents.

Human Ecology and Education The talk emphasizes the need for rethinking education to nurture human capacity rather than treating it as a commodity. It discusses the value of human imagination and creative capacities in shaping our future, emphasizing that educating children's whole being is crucial for them to face upcoming challenges.