When I introduce him as a ‘Sir’ I really don’t do him justice. One is immediately put in mind of someone who is arrogant, stuffy and extremely aware of his elevated position in the world. None of these descriptions fit Ken Robinson. He is a witty, self-deprecating and extremely humble Brit, whose ironic observations draw you in without your realising it’s happening.
As I said before, he believes kids have a natural curiosity about the world – it’s our job to spark this and guide them as they teach themselves.
This isn’t the same as a completely hands-off approach – where they sink or swim. No, it’s an approach that takes into consideration their unique talents or intelligences, and slowly but surely guides them through the content they love and that which is not of particularl interest to them.
He cited a child in England whose teacher felt she had ADHD and needed to be medicated (where have we heard that one??). After the psychiatrist had spent some time questioning her mother whilst the little girl played, he rose and explained to the child that he needed to speak with her mother outside and they wouldn’t be long. Just as he left he turned on the radio by his desk.
Once they were outside, he enjoined the mother to watch what her daughter would do now she was unaware of their presence.
The child immediately got up and started dancing. The psychiatrist turned to her mother and said: “Your daughter doesn’t have a learning problem – she’s a dancer, send her to dancing school!â€
Well, her daughter became a prima ballerina and went on to become the highest earning choreographer of her time – choreographing shows like Cats in London.
All from a child who couldn’t sit still and was judged to have a learning problem. If they had medicated her she would have become easier to have in the classroom, but could never have achieved her true potential. Scary stuff!
We simply don’t see all the other intelligences, which include the arts, spatial ability and a number of others, as being of value. We’re sold on the belief that a university degree is the pinnacle of success!
I had a wonderful delegate in one workshop where we were training Critical Thinking, who said he had spent his life believing he was stupid because he had had to repeat grade 11 twice. He was a reflective, analytical and highly intelligent man, but he had gone through a racially segregated and inferior schooling system. His background had been challenging and he had been teased mercilessly at school. When we studied the trajectory of his career we traced the progress of someone who had risen from an entry level employee, to a semi-skilled worker and on up through numerous levels to that of a branch manager – yet the label stuck!
This is just one of many examples where I meet awesome delegates who are insightful, creative, have great interpersonal skills yet still see themselves as failures.
No, people – the kids by and large – aren’t failing the schooling system – it’s failing them. It’s failing the teachers and it failed many of us and we’re still carrying the label to prove it!
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