Creativity Vs Academic Study

1848 Words4 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: American education system

In “We Should Cherish Our Children’s Freedom to Think,” Kie Ho appeals to the growing trend of people in the United States who complain about the quality of the educational system. Ho supports this system and advises his readers to reconsider the characteristic virtues of the US education. He strongly emphasizes how it guarantees and even encourages and supports its students’ freedom, particularly the freedom of self-expression. In general, I would agree with Ho’s view that it’s very important to give children the opportunity to develop their creativity and freethinking. It is important in today's world that our children become creative and critical thinkers with strong values, and that they are able to see things in a different light, and also to view the world in a distinct and personal way. I would also agree that America has long and rich experience with using the approaches of creative learning and critical thinking. Nevertheless, Ho’s point of view that the strength of the United States as a ‘country of innovations’ is tied to its system of school education remains a biased opinion and oversimplifies an otherwise complex issue. Ho fails make me believe that the American school system is far better than in other countries as his evidence is weak and fallacious.

The lack of strong supporting points and examples makes Ho’s argument fragile and somewhat incredible. In order to challenge those critics who are overanxious about the US education system, Ho frames his main counter-argument in a question “If American education is so tragically inferior, why is it that this is still the country of innovation?” (113). Although it initially appears to be a very effective approach to build his persuasive argument, i...

... middle of paper ...

... problems, and manage personal finances. A purely creative educational system that Ho idolizes would not cater to any of these needs and, accordingly, wouldn’t benefit America. A more realistic comparison of the American education system with other systems around the world could be based on a variety of factors including comparative achievements in mathematics and science, useful world geographical and historical knowledge besides other subject knowledge, not just the ability to create art from everyday objects, as Ho seems to believe. American innovation often comes from engineering and hard science where application of “ non creative “ facts and formulae are routinely applied. On the whole, Ho’s argument reminds me of a burst balloon. That is something that started out very bright and promising, but turned out to be just a spent piece of rubber in the end.

Show More
Related

  • Michael Moore Idiot Nation Summary

    579 Words  | 2 Pages

    In Rereading America Michael Moore entitled “Idiot Nation” focuses on the failing educational system in the United States of America. The American nation has decreased in their studies and have lowered their standards, yet America still claims they have their priorities in order, which is education. Moore attempts to persuade his readers that the people who are to blame are lack of education in politics and the budget cuts they are making, however, politics blame teachers for making America decrease in their schooling test scores. Americas have many opportunities and useful tools to be successful; however,

    Read More

  • Critical Analysis Of John Taylor Gatto's 'Against School'

    1754 Words  | 4 Pages

    John Taylor Gatto, who was a teacher at the public school for twenty-six years, and the writer of the essay “Against School” that first appeared in Harper’s magazine in 2001, censures and blames the American public school’s educational system in his argumentative essay with various convincible supporting ideas. Gatto argues that the demands of public education system’s schooling are essential problems in “Against School”. Gatto shows some positive examples of the educating without forced schooling and shows models of the ‘success without forced modern schooling’. Indeed, the writer insists that historically forced schooling is not related to intellectual and financial success in American history. James Bryant Conant, who was the twenty-third

    Read More

  • Analyzing Ken Robinson's Take on Education Reform

    1025 Words  | 3 Pages

    Ken informs us that of the fifteen-hundred children that were studied, ninety-eight percent had a capacity for divergent thinking. Five years later the same children were retested, of the original fifteen-hundred, this time only fifty percent had a capacity for divergent thinking(Robinson). This argument helps Ken to prove that instead of stimulating the creativity, somehow we create a sense of assimilation, as in there is only one way to think or there is only one solution to every problem. This becomes problematic, because it creates a sense of linear thinking, in a world that rarely only has one right solution, and sometimes the one solution that people can come up with isn’t always the best solution. In making this argument Ken tries to further his appeal to the logos of the speech, which he does very well, because it’s a logical thought that we should nourish the creativity of our youth, rather than squash

    Read More

  • The High Cost Of College Education

    1027 Words  | 3 Pages

    When the General Court of the Massachusetts Bay Colony founded the first college in America, Harvard, in 1636, it marked the beginning of college as the backbone to the American Dream (“About Harvard” ). Around the world, America is coveted for the “American Dream” in which someone can go from deep poverty, to unbelievable wealth, all by getting an education which allows a person to obtain any job and reach any economic level. The article “Peter Thiel Thinks You should skip college, and He’ll Even Pay For Your Trouble; The famous disrupted says overpriced universities hold back innovation, and what's to rewrite education to his liking” by Tom Clynes argues people should not attend college because it is a hindrance to innovation, while the article

    Read More

  • The American and Finnish Education Systems

    3133 Words  | 7 Pages

    Education is one of the cornerstones and pillars to the establishment and preservation of democracy. In history, countless scores of philosophers and political thinkers believed that only an educated citizenry can take on the quintessential task of upholding democracy. Thomas Jefferson, the primary writer of the Declaration of Independence, stated that “an informed citizenry is the only true repository of the public will.” A renowned defender of public education, Jefferson proposed plans for an education system that included grammar schools in his presidency. As a result of these relentless policies for education, the United States expanded on the concept of public instruction through the establishment and upkeep of a practical education system. The United States continued this tradition and established a reputation as one of the best education in the world. Currently, this is no longer valid as other countries such as Finland, China, and South Korea are competing for the dominant position through rigorous reforms that aim to boost student performances (“Best Education”). Meanwhile, the American system is inefficient, inhibited by political obstacles and gridlock while Finland, the top ranked country in terms of schooling, is continuing to improve. According to the PISA (Program for International Student Assessment) examinations that tested pupils across a variety of subjects such as reading, mathematics, and science of 2009, Finland’s students were ranked among the top (“PISA 2009”). The American students were ranked below average for industrialized countries in the world, revealing the reality of the educational crisis in the country. Finland’s education system, compared to the Americans, offers major differences that greatly ...

    Read More

  • Analysis Of Against School By John Taylor Gatto

    774 Words  | 2 Pages

    Many Americans do not question the credibility of the education system within the country because they believe it forms good citizens and creates a stepping-stone to success. John Taylor Gatto is an American teacher who has experience in the classroom for thirty years and has now devoted his life to critiquing American schools exploiting his own experiences. In his essay “Against School”, he argues that the 12-year system of school may not be necessary, due to its curriculum, and that it may be a tactic of manipulation from the government to promote obedience. I agree with his argument because there are many paths to individual success outside of public education, such as homeschooling or vocational school.

    Read More

  • Creativity in the Classroom by Ernest Boyer

    1751 Words  | 4 Pages

    The American system of education is considered to be one of the most progressive in the world. One of the surveys on attitudes toward teaching around the world found that the United States is unique in its strong emphasis on "good teaching." My experience at State College has helped me to understand better how this system works, and what methods and techniques American teachers use to motivate their students for creative and active learning. However, I can also see that this system doesn’t work perfectly in every classroom. Reading Ernest Boyer’s article “Creativity in the Classroom” helped me with my understanding of the main problem that nowadays exists with the American college education system. According to the author, the problem is that teachers and students don’t see each other as one team doing the same business; therefore, in most classrooms the process of learning becomes a boring procedure instead of being mind-blowing. Moreover, reading this article, I could analyze the reasons of this problem that the author identifies through my own experiences at State College.

    Read More

  • The Creativity Crisis Analysis

    773 Words  | 2 Pages

    What they neglect to realize is that most problems are unpredictable. So when a student faces a challenge not taught in the classroom, they will be incapable of solving or getting out of the situation. Once the formula does not work, creativity becomes a necessity. Some even fear the mere thought of imagination, since new possibilities open up the risk of failure or not being accepted. Students hold back their curiosity once they realize that teachers are unwilling to answer their question if it differs even slightly from the curriculum. These are the exact reasons our youth’s power to create fades. The value of creativity is beyond words; our society thrives on innovation. Take the stereotypical example of Bill Gates—he became a billionaire with the help of his creative thinking. So why would creativity not be the heart of our education system? Simply because there is not enough time or enough people willing to put in the

    Read More

  • Analysis Of Anthony Burgess Is America Falling Apart

    1234 Words  | 3 Pages

    There is a “fear of being unorthodox…rooted in the American teacher’s soul” (Burgess 237). Burgess stresses the prohibition of an American teacher’s competence to instruct students using any type of experimental approach other than the standardized design. In consequence, America is unable to breed eccentric geniuses and has no capacity to create a burning desire to learn within their students. The reason this dilemma has been continuing for so long is because America has been blinded by their previous accomplishments, such as the landing on the moon. On behalf of their successful progressive past, the American people are in denial of how poor the education system is now and have a state of mind that the nation is still advancing just as it was decades ago when it is in fact, the exact

    Read More

  • In Defense of Elitism

    1063 Words  | 3 Pages

    In Defense of Elitism. Summary The dominant theme in this essay appears to be this: post war social changes such as offering increased university admission promote the view of egalitarianism in education. The author’s main issue with “secondary” education is the sheer numbers of our population that the United States as a whole educates. According to Mr. Henry, the United States educates nearly thirty percent of high school graduates who go on to a four-year bachelor’s degree. He believes that the increased number of graduates has led to a workforce of mediocrity.

    Read More

  • The Education System

    1002 Words  | 3 Pages

    The education system has been a controversial issue among educators. Requirements of school do not let students choose what they want to study for their future. It’s a big issue to force students to study specific curriculums, which don’t help them improve, and what they like to create. Educators choose a general system of education for all students based on general knowledge. Intelligent or genius students have to be in that system of education, which doesn’t let them improve their creativity.

    Read More

  • Who Are You and What Are You Doing Here? Rhetorical Analysis

    1159 Words  | 3 Pages

    In Conclusion, although I have a partial disagreement with some aspects of the article, it was with great pleasure I read it because I found the way in which the author relates education with many features of the American Culture innovate. Furthermore, it is impressive the way in which the author relates his life memories with the weakness of the field where he works. Events that most of us have experienced have been converted into strong arguments by the author. Education has been one of the pillars of modern countries. Thus, Mark Edmuson message should be taken as a foundation to future education strategies. The way in he expresses his thoughts shows a big desire to see an education system evolving in tandem with the society welfare.

    Read More

  • Rhetorical Analysis Of Do Schools Kill Creativity By Sir Ken Robinson

    1201 Words  | 3 Pages

    In this notable Ted Talk video "Do schools kill creativity?", Sir Ken Robinson discusses how public education systems demolish creativity because they believe it is essential to the academic growth and success of students. Robinson created a broad arrange of arguments to persuade the viewers to take action on this highly ignored issue, and he primarily focuses on how important creativity is. There are classes within schools that help utilize creativity, but they are not taken seriously by adults in society. Therefore, the value of creative knowledge decreases. Robinson uses an unusual combination of pathos and ethos to make an enjoyable dispute for implementing an education system that nurtures rather than eats away at creativity.

    Read More

  • Analysis Of We Should Cherish Our Children's Freedom To Think

    1241 Words  | 3 Pages

    College students are getting many different educations between countries, and some countries focus on their imagination, and others focus on their solid knowledge. There is no doubt that America has one of the top education systems in the world, otherwise, wouldn’t attract so many international students. From the article, “We Should Cherish Our Children 's Freedom to Think” by Kie Ho, he shows what he thinks about American education. He mainly states that American education is the most top in the world and is a country of innovation, because its system is more about let students “think” and less focus on “actual knowledge.” Although I agree with Ho’s idea about student’s freedom to think, however, I disagree with Ho’s minding about students

    Read More

  • Essay On Creativity

    778 Words  | 2 Pages

    Since we are born we have imagination and as we grow up this imagination may increase or decrease. Creativity strongly relies in our imagination. Depending on different circumstances people learn to express their creativity openly while other people close themselves and believe they do not have creativity. Creativity is a natural talent that every single human has. Creativity can be used to solve a complex problem in a different manner or just to find innovative ways to have fun. Creativity is thinking out of the box. Even though creativity cannot be taught from scratch there should be a class that is specific for creativity.

    Read More

More about Creativity Vs Academic Study

Open Document