Speaker - Gordon MacKenzie

Tue, Feb 20th 2018 at 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm

Retired headteacher Gordon Mackenzie gave a thought-provoking talk to Kilrymont Rotary Club on the need to allow pupils to develop more creative skills during their education at school.

Gordon began by saying that children were the greatest resource for the future of our country. Governments always gave education a high priority.

However, education's focus on exam results and international comparison leads to the continued alienation of a sizeable number of children.

Gordon said we need to be brave in schools and encourage pupils' creative skills as part of their full development.

We need imaginative problems solvers and thinkers able to develop their talents. There should be less emphasis on always just getting the right answer. Pupils should not be scared of making a mistake.

Gordon gave an example of a piece of research where youngsters were asked to list uses for a paper clip where 200 ideas equalled a genius level. At 5 years old, with their inquisitive and imaginative minds, 98% reached the target. By 10 years old the figure dropped to 35% and at age 15 only 10% achieved the genius level.

It was suggested that the education methods had stifled creativity.

Gordon hoped in the future that as well as promoting the core subjects, there could be a greater emphasis in the curriculum on creative areas of drama, music and sport.

Members then aired their own views in a lively discussion.

Forbes Lockhart proposed thanks.

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