The Paradox of Education: The Loss of Genius
"Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.” Albert Einstein
In the pursuit of education, there exists a paradox: the more we expose our children to traditional education, the greater the likelihood that they will “dumb down” and stifle their creativity in order to conform.
The statistics around the loss of genius translate into the loss of creativity, originality, and innovation. These fabulous three traits, when honored, create an environment where each individual has the potential to transform our world.
Ironically, it was NASA’s interest in hiring innovative thinkers that led George Land to embark on a 20-year longitudinal study about the nature of creative genius. To do so, he followed 1,600 young children, aged three to five, who were enrolled in a Head Start program. The children were given a creativity test initially crafted for NASA recruits. The results were startling: 98% of these youngsters were labeled as creative geniuses. However, a follow-up revealed a concerning trend. The genius tag dropped to 30% at age 10 and further down to 12% at age 15. When compared to adults, only a dismal 2% maintained this level of creative genius.
Land discovered that traditional education’s use of rigid criteria, standardized testing, and conformity to norms suppresses a child’s natural genius and their innate ability to solve problems that others miss. Rote memorization, rigid criteria, and conformity to norms all stifle the child’s ability to find and explore their gifts. Memorization, standardized testing, and conformity create children who must adhere to “practical” disciplines. As Land’s research revealed, children who were taught to conform lose their ability to recognize and honor their unique gifts.
There is a potential goldmine of creativity within each child. When honored, it is nurtured and expressed through art, music, and their innate curiosity to explore without boundaries.
Divergent thinking is required if we are to nurture children’s innate genius. Our job is to nurture and encourage our children to dream, follow their gifts, and honor their unique differences.
There is a genius in all of us. It’s never too late to regain curiosity and uncover your five-year-old self. Give yourself permission to experience joy as you learn to follow and release the inner wisdom and wonder of your own unique genius.
Stay tuned for the next stress tip!
Peace & Blessings,
Dr. Lin Morel
Image Credit: Stefany Andrade