Members Diana Thompson

Nov 8 2009: Normal? What is normal? There are a lot more than 1-2 % of children being labled with some learning issue in the US. And there are a lot more than 1-2% of children on drugs to keep them in "normal" classroom settings.

So now, not only should we over-emphasize science and math based on your biasis but we shouldn't bother about those that do not fit into your definition of "normal'?

Why do you insist that teaching creativity has to come at the expense of teaching science and math? Geometry is a great example that could incorporate both.

Maybe some more creative thinking on your part would help you to discover that you can do both and do both equally and not one at the expense of the other.

Nov 8 2009: You also accuse others of being extreeme in their position. All I see is that Ken and other responders are saying that creativity should be taught equally. You are the one who keeps interpreting that as teaching children the full bredth of human knowledge, you are the one that is generalizing to make a point.

The point is that creativity is what takes knowledge to a new level. Have you seen a primary school here? Standardized tests show that kids from better socio-economic school districts do better at test taking. Test taking is a skill to regergitate short term knowledge not an indicator of understanding or the ability to apply knowledge gained through study.

I want my child to learn the value of creativity, critical thinking, and a love of learning. At 18 he can go on to be anything that he wants and can make his own choices with understanding of the options and consequences of his choices.

Why are you so completed to argue with everyone? So compeled to be right?

Nov 8 2009: You said that you are a grad student and that English is not your native language. Given those statements, I would venture a guess that you did not receive your primary education in this country...and even if you did it was quite a number of years ago.

I don't know what state you are in but I am in California. I was born and raised here. I lived through the degredation of our primary education with implementation of Prop 13. I watched the arts be taken away. I turned out OK in the end but then I was fortunate enough to live in a very creative household.

I cannot tell what all your biases are. However, one seems to be that you think that people have a responsiblitiy to study and take jobs in fields that are math and science based if they display any tallent. Why? Why do you feel that is a moral obligation? It may be for you but why do you want to impose your values on all parents of school aged children?