Great post William! Have you read the article “Why Nerds are Unpopular” by Paul Graham? It’s a bit off topic from what you’re talking about here, but he does touch on the idea that the modern suburban grade school system is ineffective in teaching skills that actually contribute to a fulfilling life. Graham stated that teens in older times who spent time in the real world instead of a sterile middle/high school environment ended up being less moody and rebellious than the average teenager in modern suburbia. Do you think having students more involved in real world environments could help them develop creative skills, and do you think the development of creative skills could be related to the general mindsets of teens? I’m sure that cultivating a positive mindset to learning would empower students to try to be creative and do things on their own, but I’m curious on whether you think real world involvement would help bring about this change.
