Does School Kill Creativity?

If you're a teacher who pays attention to anything in the world of staff development and critical analysis of school reform efforts, then you've certainly heard - probably numerous times - Sir Ken Robinson's TED Talks presentation about how "schools are killing creativity."  It is embedded below.  You may have even seen a shortened, but very clever visual interpretation of Sir Ken Robinson's ideas as presented by RSA Animate - which is a great site and organization unto itself.

However, Brian Rosenberg, the president of Macalester College, offers an interesting follow up to Sir Ken Robinson's assertions.  Perhaps, as Rosenberg asserts, schools aren't killing creativity, but instead "society is killing the ability of schools to encourage creativity."  Critics of the obsessive standardized test culture - reflective of only left-brain thinking - would certainlhy agree.

Certainly, there is little to criticize about Ken Robinson's ideas regarding creativity.  It is, as Rosenberg notes, difficult to argue against the idea of creativity in schools.  And, I firmly believe we have weakened our schools and society as a whole with a single-minded approach to education that is based on a factory model of creating workers.  For this reason, I have attempted to modify and "enrich" my English classroom with lessons such as "multi-genre research papers" and even "interpretive dance" while studying poetry.  I've also tried to embrace right-brain thinking with my senior before they graduate by using Daniel Pink's A Whole New Mind as one of our texts.

There is little doubt that the left brain skills and standardized testing of them have served to provide a stability and continuity in education.  And that stability is important.  But schools are remiss if they don't pursue, vigorously, the addition of more right-brained approaches to education - at the same time pursuing and guaranteeing basic skills of literacy

Colorado Senate Rejects Civics Bill, Citizenship Test

Today, after three floor readings of SB-148 - The "Citizenship Test" graduation requirement - the Colorado Senate rejected the civics bill by a vote of 18-17. State senator Jack Tate joined seventeen other legislators who stood up for parents and educators who argued against the increase in standardized testing. After the bill had barely passed the Senate Education Committee 5-4, and passed the Senate floor the day before on a voice vote, enough Colorado legislators sensibly rejected an undesired and unnecessary bill which would have been the "highest stakes test in Colorado." While no one disputes the value of civics - which is currently a required class in Colorado - critics of the bill exposed many problems with the idea. On the most basic level, there is widespread opposition to any single test being a graduation requirement. That approach is far too narrow and diminishes the entire idea of a well-rounded education of mulitple subjects and thousands of hours of learning. Secondly, standardized tests of this sort can only measure memorization and regurgitation of arbitrary factual issues, the knowledge of which does not necessarily reflect a true understanding of citizenship or civics. And, that idea is another criticism - that a single test as a measurement makes faulty claims about true knowledge. Being able to memorize info for a test would not accurately reflect or guarantee a student's true knowledge of history, civics, or citizeship.

Again, no one believes that Americans' knowledge of civics is solid. Teens and adults clearly have a lot to learn. But this test would not prove anything, and it would have done more harm than good. Perhaps we could just require that kids learn this rap:



Or maybe this one. These kids are learning their civics.

Forget Computer Science, Mr President. Every Kid Needs Debate

I recently challenged President Obama's misguided emphasis on computer science - simply put, not every kid needs CS. It's a very narrow curriculum and skill which is not applicable, or even relevant or interesting, to most kids and in most careers. And, I feel that way about much of the canon when it comes to public education. Not every kid needs algebra. Not every kid needs to study a foreign language. Not every kid needs to read The Great Gatsby or write a sonnet - or even read a sonnet.

But I might argue that every kid needs Debate class.

I've written before about the value of debate when I reported on the state Speech & Debate Tournament in Colorado. There are few students who impress me more with their knowledge, insight, confidence, diligence, and speaking skills than debate kids. Granted, DECA and FCCLA kids are also mighty impressive. But debate kids cultivate skills of emotional intelligence that will serve them well in any career from computer science to non-profit fundraising. Debate cultivates people skills, and our students need those more than ever. And, in a great piece for Bustle.com, Dasha Fayvinova offers great commentary on "20 Reasons Why Debate Kids are Better Prepared for Adulthood." Among them:

Debaters Know How To Advocate For Themselves

This one is obvious. Being a debater, meant never letting anyone get the upper hand in an argument. Parents would crack jokes about us being able to convince them of anything we set our minds to, and teachers would wave us off saying “You’re on the debate team, right?”. As adults we never struggle to clearly and concisely explain our opinions in a straightforward manner.

Debaters Can Persuade Like No Other

No wonder most debaters go on to have law degrees and political careers. We are masters of persuasion. Arguing is a natural skill, but persuasion can be learned. Knowing that "one third" sounds better than "33 percent" is a gift given to me by my coach. Certain phrases are overused and should be avoided. Eye contact. Next time your friend convinces you of something, ask if they ever did debate in high school. The persuasion possibilities are endless in adulthood, when you face very important challenges like negotiating your rent or vying for the last slice of pizza every day.

Debaters Can See Both Sides

Because the topic you debate has both a pro and a con, and only a flip of a coin decides which side you represent, as a debater you needed to see both sides to every argument. The best debaters predict arguments against their own side. This is what makes debaters the best adults. We can see an issue from both sides.

Debaters Can Smell BS A Mile Away


As John Stewart said in the final moments of his run on The Daily Show — “bullsh*t is everywhere”. Because as debaters, we manipulated so much evidence to help us win argument and spin it a certain way, debaters are really good at spotting when other people are doing it to them. (Take that, Craigslist scammers!)

Play Ball - The Boys of Summer are Back

Ahh, baseball.

Today, hope springs eternal as the Boys of Sumer return to the parks and the diamonds and bring us another season of memories. Baseball is America's game, and despite many people who have lamented the fading of it in our consciousness - especially as the National Football League dominates headlines (not always in a good way) - baseball is thriving in the United States and around the world. It is "a nineteenth-century pastoral game" that represents so much goodness. No one said it better than James Earl Jones in the mythical story of Field of Dreams.

Ray, people will come, Ray. They'll come to Iowa for reasons they can't even fathom. They'll turn up your driveway, not knowing for sure why they're doing it. They'll arrive at your door as innocent as children, longing for the past. "Of course, we won't mind if you have a look around," you'll say. "It's only twenty dollars per person." They'll pass over the money without even thinking about it; for it is money they have and peace they lack. And they'll walk out to the bleachers, and sit in shirt-sleeves on a perfect afternoon. They'll find they have reserved seats somewhere along one of the baselines, where they sat when they were children and cheered their heroes. And they'll watch the game, and it'll be as if they'd dipped themselves in magic waters. The memories will be so thick, they'll have to brush them away from their faces. People will come, Ray. The one constant through all the years, Ray, has been baseball. America has rolled by like an army of steamrollers. It's been erased like a blackboard, rebuilt, and erased again. But baseball has marked the time. This field, this game, is a part of our past, Ray. It reminds us of all that once was good, and it could be again. Ohhhhhhhh, people will come, Ray. People will most definitely come.

Baseball is an easygoing game with an understated intensity. In what other sport can a 1-0 pitchers duel with zero offense be as exciting and compelling as a homerun derby or a game filled with hit after hit of small ball. Baseball is a game that can be listened to on the radio for all the beauty of the commentary. It's a game you watch on the edge of your seat, but can also sit back and chat with fellow fans in the interim. It contains the most challenging and arguably impossible act in all of sports - hitting a ball coming at you at 95 mph. It is a game and contest in which measurements are absolutely pristine in their specificity. The bases have to be 90 feet apart, not 89 or 91. One less foot and a fielder could never throw out a runner. One foot more and a batter would could never reach base in time. 60 feet 6 inches is the only distance that gives both pitchers and hitters an even chance. A matter of inches would change everything. It's beauty is in its precision.

In the spirit of baseball, I'll leave you with the inimicable wisdom of George Carlin and his comparison of baseball and football. "Safe at home. I want to be safe at home."

Play Ball.

Ancient Chinese Wisdom for Today's Students

"Why can't I figure out who I am and what I want to do?"

In an era saturated with opportunities and information centered around self-help and finding yourself, it's a bit befuddling that college professsors like Michael Puett and Christine Gross-Loh hear endless and continual questions of self doubt from the Millennials on college campuses. Yet, it's probably pretty obvious and expected as well. Kids these days are pretty jammed up with perceived pressure of actually being successful someday. Puett and Gross-Loh have offered a fascinating bit of advice in their new book The Path: What Chinese Philosophers Can Teach Us about the Good Life. Their advice is not focused on following their passion or getting into a good college or preparing for a career. It is about living a meaningful life each day. And sometimes that requires approaching life and each day with an "as if" philosophy.

Instead of struggling to be authentic, Confucius proposed another approach: “as if” rituals, that is, rituals meant to break us out of our own reality for a moment. These rituals are the very opposite of authenticity—and that’s what makes them work. We break from who we are when we note the unproductive patterns we’ve fallen into and actively work to shift them—“as if” we were different people in that moment. When you hear your girlfriend at the door and make yourself go to greet her instead of sitting there absorbed in your iPhone, you are creating a break. When you make a point of ignoring your mother’s harping and solicit her guidance, you are recognizing that both of you are constantly shifting and changing and capable of bringing out other parts of each other. Instead of being stuck in the roles of nagging mother and put-upon child, you have behaved “as if” you were someone else. It turns out that being insincere, being untrue to ourselves, helps us to grow.

I really enjoy the idea of living a life and breaking out of our routines by living as if we are someone else. In fact, I see it from the perspective of living "as if you are the person you truly want to be." For me that would probably mean a life filled with more meaningful experiences like arts and culture. The idea of learning to play the piano so I can re-create a piece from Mozart, or of creating a compost garden because that's the impact I want to have on my world, are both appealing ideas. As far as advice for students, I constantly reiterate my advice against "following your passion," and instead focusing on developing skills and talents and knowledge that will make for more significant living.

Writers and researchers like Daniel Coyle and Cal Newport agree with Rowe’s suspicion about following passion. In his book “The Talent Code,” Coyle recommends that students work on developing skills and talents rather than pursuing ideas like passion and personal happiness. In the real world, most people aren’t passionate about work or filled with zeal during the daily-ness of their jobs. And there’s nothing wrong with that. Additionally, following passion is a challenge for young people, many whom don’t have a passion — or at least not one easily linked to a career. Cal Newport concurs in his book, “So Good They Can’t Ignore You,” named after a quote by actor Steve Martin. Martin has written numerous best-selling books, an award-winning play, and is considered one of the premier art collectors in America. He is also a renowned musician whose prowess with the banjo rivals the best in the business.

Obama's Absurd & Unnecessary CS/Computer Science Mandate

I'm wondering how much computer science President Obama knows ... or ever needed to know. Can he code? Does he know Java? Do those words mean anything to him? Are those ideas as foreign to him as the value of art history?

These questions are a signficant part of my irritation with the President naively wading into education policy again with very little knowledge of what kids need to be "successful" in the contemporary age. Truly, computer science and the entire concept of STEM are highly specialized areas that will appeal to many, but should not be forced on any. Education should be about opportunity - not mandate ... or even very strong urging and recommendations. We need fewer required classes and more options and autonomy for students. Greater flexibility in what kids learn is far more meaningful than mandates that everyone become "a digital age" worker.

In fact, the same idea can be applied to the entire idea of studying math ... or literature for that matter. Andrew Hacker has asked meaningful questions about the necessity of every high school student being forced to pursue and achieve proficiency in algebra and algebra II/trig. Hacker challenges the  conventional wisdom of numeracy instruction in his book The Math Myth: and Other Stem Delusions. Students would be equally well served - or even more so - with study of probability and statistics and financial literacy/economics and number theory and ... yes, even computer science.

Andrew Hacker’s 2012 New York Times op-ed questioning the requirement of advanced mathematics in our schools instantly became one of the paper’s most widely circulated articles. Why, he wondered, do we inflict a full menu of mathematics—algebra, geometry, trigonometry, even calculus—on all young Americans, regardless of their interests or aptitudes? The Math Myth expands Hacker’s scrutiny of many widely held assumptions, like the notions that mathematics broadens our minds, that mastery of azimuths and asymptotes will be needed for most jobs, that the entire Common Core syllabus should be required of every student. He worries that a frenzied emphasis on STEM is diverting attention from other pursuits and subverting the spirit of the country.

Math Counts State Championship in Colorado

On March 19, Colorado held its state championship for the MathCounts competition, which is one of the top contests for middle school math. MathCounts is sponsored by the Raytheon Corporation and the National Society of Professional Engineers. The national championship is on May 7-9 in Washington DC. Here's is my write-up of the competition, which was won by my son and his team:

Mazenko, Campus Middle School Win MathCounts State Championship

On a beautifully brisk and sunny Saturday morning in March, the top middle school math minds in the state met to match wits and problem solving skills at the Colorado School of Mines. It was the state championship and national qualifying tournament for the national MathCounts Competition. For the second consecutive year, Austen Mazenko won the individual countdown round and his team from Campus Middle School in Greenwood Village won the team competition. Mazenko will be joined by the team of Rahul Thomas, Edward Lim, and Anudeep Golla for the national tournament in Washington DC on May 7-9.

MathCounts competitors are called “math-letes,” and they attack complicated algorithmic challenges with the same speed and ferocity as a sprinter or a blitzing linebacker. Nowhere was that more evident than in the Countdown Round to decide the national team. In Countdown, the top ten competitors from the morning’s written rounds are called to the stage where they go head-to-head in a “lightning fast” challenge to answer complicated questions like “Integers p and q are both prime and p 2 + q 2 = 53. What is the value of p + q ?” in 45 seconds or less. This year’s Countdown posed a huge challenge for Anudeep Golla of Southern Hills Middle School. Golla, a finalist and member of the Colorado national team in 2015, was the first name called to the stage. That meant he would have to beat five straight opponents to earn a trip to DC for nationals.   “It was pretty intense,” Golla said, “I just kept hoping for one more question.” After reaching the final four, he succumbed to Eddie Lim of Lesher World IB Middle School in Ft. Collins.

Once the final four team was set, the competition became a battle for second place, as most of the competitors in the room knew it would be difficult, if not impossible, to dethrone last year’s champion Austen Mazenko of Campus Middle School. After Lim knocked out Golla, he was bested by Rahul Thomas of Campus MS. But as a teammate of Mazenko’s, Rahul knew he drew the short straw. That challenge became clear when Mazenko answered his first two questions in less than two seconds. The third question which clinched Mazenko’s second state title took a little longer at roughly four seconds. The speed and accuracy surprised even the most veteran of MathCounts observers, among them was Matt Bixby of The Challenge School. “That was amazing,” Bixby said. “I mean study and preparation certainly plays a role, but that sort of speed is something else altogether.” As winner of the team round, Campus Middle School gets to take their coach to the national competition. That means Amy Bainbridge, the Gifted & Talented Coordinator at Campus, will travel with the team to DC in hopes of competing with roughly 220 of the top middle school mathletes in the country.

Local MathCounts director and coordinator Noelle Cochran of the Colorado chapter of the National Society of Professional Engineers again coordinated the state event, and she was responsible for organizing the competition of the eight regional winners and dozens of other qualifiers from around the state. She had high praise for all the competitors and volunteers, and she was especially appreciative of the former MathCounts competitors who return to help out. “We couldn’t do this without the work of so many volunteers,” Cochran said, and she urged the crowd to continue to promote and support MathCounts. The world of competitive math “is a great way to engage kids,” Cochran explained, and she spoke with competitors afterward about opportunities in fields like engineering and data science. MathCounts is a national organization , and the competition is open to all middle school students. Interested parties can obtain more information at MathCounts.Coloradomath.org.

  

Soda Consumption Falls to 30-Year Low - It's About Time!

Have you noticed more Coca-Cola commercials now than you have in recent years? It certainly seems that way - and it may be a result of the soft drink companies feeling a financial pinch from the news that "soda consumption dropped to a 30-year-low" in recent months. If that were true, it could be an amazing development in the fight against obesity and type-2 diabetes. Let's face it - soda is one of the worst products we can consume because it is basically "sugar water" with a bunch of chemicals thrown in to make it even more addictive. I know that when I cut daily soda consumption out thirteen years ago, I lost a good 15+ pounds in about six weeks. While I certainly enjoyed a pop every once in a while, I enjoy much more feeling healthy and fit. And, there is no reason that we can't adapt our tastes to products like unsweetened Arizona Tea, or better yet, some Coconut Water. That said, I dilute those products for a variety of reasons. And, even if consumers are switching from high-fructose corn syrup laden soft drinks to something as simple as Vitamin Water, at least they are cutting their sugar and calorie consumption.

CO Civics Test Bill Barely Passes Committee

SB/HB-148 - the "civics bill " from Senator Owen Hill and inspired by the work of The Foss Institute - barely cleared the Senate Education Committee today on a 5-4 vote. It was a fascinating day of discussion and testimony as the committee worked through amendments and discussion. There were several stops and starts as Senator Kerr introduced numerous amendments, and Senator Merrifield tried to replace the 9th grade PARCC test with the civics test in an "amendment that should satisfy everyone." That comment was, of course, one of many moments of levity and humor during almost two hours of discussion. But, the most interesting point of the debate came very early on when bill sponsor Owen Hill basically exposed his own bill to the widest interpretation possible, implying that teachers and schools have complete "local control" and autonomy in how they administer the test. When pressed on this issue from a quizzical Senator Mike Johnston, he said he "trusts teachers and principals"to do what is right for their communities, even if that means the exam can be taken as "an open book" quiz with the teacher "projecting the quiz on screen." Basically, it can be a group test with all students passing it together. The point, he explained, was to "start the conversation" about civics and citizenship. It was a truly, uh, interesting point of discussion, and at the end of the day, none of us listening in can be really sure whether students have to take the test or not.

The new exam would be on top of a longstanding state requirement that every student “satisfactorily complete” a civics class to graduate. Disabled students wouldn’t have to take the test, and principals or superintendents could waive the requirement for students who meet all other graduation requirements and can show “extraordinary circumstances.” And test results would not be used for teacher evaluations or district and school ratings. Committee members asked Hill if the bill would allow principals or superintendents to waive the test for whole groups of students. He indicated it would, to the quiet surprise of several people in the room.

In the end, Senators Kerr, Todd, and Merrifield were joined by Committee Vice-Chair Marble in voting against the bill. Marble commented that she was unsettled by the implication of this bill that by "passing the test" students could in some way feel like they were competent in their knowledge of civics and government. She was also disappointed by bill opponents who criticized the content as trivial. Ultimately, the bill will go to the floor and then the House committee where it will be target for more amendments.

In my view, it should be enough for the legislature to turn this bill into a resolution that "strongly encourages" the incorporation of this test into the current civics class. Students should be given the opportunity to take the test and receive some sort of endorsement for doing so successfully. That promotes the idea without creating the most high stakes standardized test in the state.

Testimony Opposing Colorado Citizenship Test Bill

Today, I testified before the Colorado Senate Education Hearing, asking them to oppose and reject SB/HB-148, which would require that all high school students pass the citizenship test as a graduation requirement. Here is the text of my testimony:

My name is Michael Mazenko, and I’m an educator and school administrator with nearly 25 years in education both here and abroad, in public and private schools. I am speaking as a private citizen and on behalf of SEEK, the grassroots group of parents and educators, and I am urging you to reject the idea of a citizenship test as a graduation requirement. I am not opposed to standardized tests – in fact, as an AP teacher, I teach to them. But this bill is unnecessary and will do nothing to improve educational outcomes for kids. On the surface, the test seems innocuous or even "a good idea," but we must not diminish a student's entire academic body of work to a single standardized test, regardless of subject. And, let’s be clear: if you pass this bill, you are stating that a single test of civics knowledge is equal in value to all other subjects combined. That is a sad dismissal of the idea of a well-rounded education.

The problem with this bill is it naively and mistakenly equates facts with knowledge. Colorado already requires students to pass a government class, and a standardized test neither proves nor guarantees a person is an informed citizen. Being able to cite the Mississippi River as the country’s longest or knowing that Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration will not make citizens more informed voters. It's easy to argue that an educated person should know the same facts about American government that aspiring citizens do. But, what do those facts really prove about knowledge of citizenship and government?

Our opposition is not simply about "over-testing,” though that does create a slippery slope toward an increasing battery of tests. The problem is the significance placed on this test. No single test should be a graduation requirement. A student’s education consists of numerous subjects and varied skills with thousands of hours of class time and credits. And CDE has spent years developing the 2021 requirements that contain multiple pathways to demonstrate proficiency across curricula. Placing one test above all that is ridiculous. This test is a symbolic red herring that deceives the public into thinking passing the test will guarantee "an educated electorate." It will not.

Taking a punitive approach that threatens kids with no graduation if they don't pass a single objective test will not inspire a love of country or a deeper understanding of government. Many students will memorize the info for the test only to forget it a short time later. But this test could negatively impact struggling students who could see their entire academic record tossed aside over the inability to regurgitate facts. Many people forget civics facts after they leave high school. Will you also mandate that adult voters pass a refresher test every couple years to prove they are competent to vote? If not, then this whole idea is hypocritical. Mandating the Pledge of Allegiance does not make people love their country, and mandating a citizenship test won’t either. Let’s inspire kids with civics knowledge, not threaten them with it.

If you want to improve civics knowledge, you should promote and fund programs like Model United Nations. You should promote and fund debate classes because, let’s face it, debate kids are often the most well-informed voters in the state. This bill does not promote democracy and education, it’s not in the best interest of kids, and it should be rejected.

Overall, the hearing went well, and I believe the committee received a lot of insightful information from both sides to consider. I have to thank the committee for graciously receiving our comments and engaging in thoughtful discussion of the issue. Specifically, I want to thank Senators Andy Kerr, Nancy Todd, and Mike Johnston for their questions and comments. And I would like to thank Senators Kerr, Johnston, and bill sponsor Owen Hill for taking the time to speak with me and my son after the hearing. This was democracy in action, and for my son, that was the best civics lesson of all.

Millenials Need McLuhan

Though he wasn't a member of Generation X, cultural philosopher and pop culture critic Marshall McLuhan was a prophetic voice in response to the encroaching consumer culture that has created a world driven by info-tainment. McLuhan is best known for an insightful quote from his book Understanding Media: The Extensions of Man where he explained "The medium is the message."  In a post-modern world saturated by media and advertising McLuhan saw vividly how man would come to be manipulated by the very media he actively sought for clarification and truth. 

Gen X writer Douglas Coupland was heavily influenced by the views and criticism of McLuhan. And, Coupland was inspired several years ago to research and compose another biography of McLuhan which clarifies and synthesizes his ideas for a new generation. Coupland's work Marhsall McLuhan: You Know Nothing of My Work  explains the background of McLuhan's life which enabled him to so astutely and presciently predict the internet and information, along with plenty of inherent warnings about the damaging power of media saturation.

As a fan of pop culture and pop culture criticism, I am just beginning to delve into the brilliance of McLuhan.

Oh, the Joys of Banjo

It was in Taipei around 1993 that I first heard the intricately funky but captivatingly cool sounds of Bela Fleck and the Flecktones. A musically gifted roommate - you know, the type of guy who always had a guitar and could craft a song out of any givent moment - was introducing me to a variety of new and ecclectic sounds he'd discovered in college. But Bela Fleck wasn't the first banjo player to intrigue me - that distinction goes back to my youth in the 70s, and the cool and seemingly out-of-place but amazingly appropriate sounds of the Coolest Man on Earth, Mr. Steve Martin, playing the banjo on Saturday Night Live. Only recently have I started listening to banjo again, as I discovered this beautiful little diddy called "Freddie's Lilt" from Steve Martin and the Steep Canyon Rangers. I had created an Avett Brothers station on Pandora, and one day on a whim I added Steve Martin, and the magical sounds he gets out of a Deering Clawgrass Banjo. There is something so whimsically beautiful and folksy about the sounds of bluegrass that just oozes the best of Americana.

So, take a seat in the rocking chair and kick back to a wonderful song.