Creative intervention at Constitution DockI have finally signed up to Twine. Now I get a daily digest of inspirational and interesting articles in my inbox. From the human brain to art, from information systems to sustainable living, every day my life is a little more enriched by the wonderful words and images that I find on Twine.

Today Twine pointed me towards Sir Ken Robinson’s TED talk on why schools kill creativity. I had seen it before, and watching it again, I wondered why I didn’t pay more attention the first time. Its fantastic!

Sir Ken talks about the public education system as an invention of the nineteenth century, designed to meet the needs of the Industrial Age. To make sure you become a Good Worker. The most successful output of this system is a University lecturer. After all, as he points out, the hierarchy of subjects starts with Mathematics and Languages at the top, through Humanities to Art at the bottom.

The problem is that there are now more University graduates than there ever have been before, ever. When once a Bachelor degree would land you that fabulous job, academic inflation has caused degrees to be worth so little that a Masters has become an entry point, and a PHD equivalent to a Masters.

Like Sir Ken Robinson I truly believe that developing a capacity for creativity actually causes better thinking and more passionate people. It is such a relief to stop feeling alone in this!

Late last year, after fifteen years in the workforce, I resigned from a good job, started a little business with my sister and embarked on my second degree, a (Bachelor of Fine Arts at UTAS).

I have long felt that I am very effective in my work when I am also actively pursuing my passion. By developing my creativity I will be able to bring new abilities and skills into the workplace, my home, my community. In that scenario, everyone wins!