Dive Brief:
- In his new book, "Creative Schools: The Grassroots Revolution That's Transforming Education," Sir Ken Robinson makes the case for personalization in schools, saying that the standardization of education only alienates and disengages teachers and students.
- Robinson, who is well-known for his viral TED Talk, "How School Kill Creativity," says teachers must engage and inspire students, which is somewhat difficult when their every move is tied to a standards-based culture.
- Robinson gives the example of the Boston Arts Academy, an inner-city school with a 94% college acceptance rate, which he says is due to a broad curriculum and flexibility that allow educators to engage students and adapt lessons to their interests.
Dive Insight:
With over 32 million views, Robinson's TED talk is the most watched of the series. Given that level of influence, any of his thoughts on the classroom will likely be taken seriously and considered by various state legislators and school leaders. The unfortunate reality, of course, is the fact that the U.S. appears to be moving farther away from free, flexible curriculums as it pushes for rigid standards, high-stakes tests, and evaluations tied to those exams.
