“The principle goal of education is to create men who are capable of doing new things, not simply of repeating what other generations have done – men who are creative, inventive and discoverers.” - Jean Piaget
A few years ago I was invited to speak at a local primary school about future careers and new technologies. The school gave me a tour of some of the classrooms and I noticed that Year 1 and 2 classes had Edward De Bono’s Six Thinkings Hats on a large poster on the wall. I was surprised and delighted that the school was teaching the Six Thinking Hats process to primary school children. However I quickly discovered that beyond Year 2 the Six Thinking Hats posters had disappeared from the later year classes.
I am a great advocate and believer that creative thinking as well as critical thinking and other types of thinking should be taught in our schools at an early age. However, we continue to develop new standardised curricula the same way we always have done but expect new outcomes. There must be a better way. I believe we should continue to teach creative thinking in our schools (primary and secondary) in an attempt to develop students with both the lateral and rational thinking styles.
I found the following video on “Changing Education Paradigms” very challenging and informative.
What are your thoughts on our education system?
Dr John Kapeleris
