Do Schools Kill Creativity?
Really, this entry was at least partly inspired by something pretty intriguing I’d seen written long ago about USA Hockey’s ADM program.
At the same time, I’m hoping that by now my CoachChic.com friends have come to trust me as I search high and low for information that can put them far ahead of others.
So, with that, the following video should prove both entertaining and humorous. You might even see a little of yourself or a child as you watch and listen. Truly, though, Sir Ken Robinson’s line of thinking has much to do with the way I happen to view young, developing hockey players. I’ll save my own thoughts until after you’ve had a chance to see the video, however...
Precious, or what?
Okay, I’m hoping by now you’ve gotten the sense that creativity can be stifled within our educational institutions. That established, however, I wonder if you’ve ever considered the possibility that a rather old sport — with so much tradition — can also squelch unique spirits and ingenuity. Huh?
Just think… If it wasn’t for the stubbornness of a Jacques Plante, goaltenders nowadays might still be facing ferocious shots without a mask. One has to wonder if Bernie “Boom Boom” Geoffrion was at all deterred along the way as he experimented with his new offensive weapon, the slapshot. And, we have to really think about the chance that an overbearing hockey coach way back in their earliest years could have totally discouraged the creativity of a Gretzky, a Lemieux, or an Ovechkin.
As for me, I’ll share this brief story… A few years back, I tried a highly skilled little guy on the powerplay with some slightly older players. Right off, that little guy started freelancing with our plays, which just as immediately drew some concerns from one of my assistant coaches. I kinda chuckled at that, as I whispered to my assistant, “That’s what I’ve been looking for all along!” Our plays weren’t meant to be regimented; they were just ideas for what we could do in various circumstances.
Oh, you or I might not be coaching a future Great One. But, then, who knows.? The point I’m trying to really make here is that our sport needs creativity. So, we ought to think twice before making all of our youngest players conform to every old standard.
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PS: Addressing this issue just now with a Facebook friend, I was reminded of something I’ve always felt… Ya know, when we have a roster full of good, hard working people, we always long for that one unique player who can seemingly pull rabbits out of a hat. (I think you know what I mean: a real magician when the chips are on the line.) The sad part comes when some coaches get that one special player, beat on him or her for being creative, and seemingly try to turn him or her into an ordinary one.
