In 2008, professors at Seoul National University publicly complained about all the application essays being identical in their ideas, contents, and structures. Such standardization comes mainly from the uniform education students receive; they are always told to write the formal answer sheet. In the field of formal tests and college admission, the matter gets even more serious and complicated. In order to attain high scores, students adopt same techniques and styles without having any doubt or hesitating. For example, almost every Korean private education institutes teach their students to write the SAT essay in a very strictly structured form. They are told to use similar contextured examples, vocabularies, and so on. These methods may bring us with high scores. The purpose of writing essay, however, is not to fill the fancy ready-made phrases in a strict form; it is rather about expressing personal ideas. Take a glance at the current situation; where is our individuality and creativity?
     Before discussing whether my creativity has enhanced or not, let me clarify the concept of 'creativity'. Creativity comes in many different meanings to various people. Some people define the term as an act of creating any unique things or ideas. Some denote creativity as devising things that had not been thought of. Although the precise definition may be equivocal, the key concept is quite clear: creativity is creating something that is fresh and special.
     From my childhood, I had a frequent contact with critical thinking-inducing games such as sudoku and puzzle. People approved me of being creative, and they still do. Due to such efforts to constantly promote rational and logical thinking, I find my creativity quality as it was back in the young ages.
     I encounter many unique people in KMLA. Undoubtedly talented, many students have great interest in various fields and they always talk about mind-catching facts or stories. Joining their thoughts, I can imagine and feel the new world and can experience many perspectives of accepting certain situations. Thus, I am very happy with the surrounding of KMLA~!
     Now let us go over the speech made by Sir Robinson.
     Sir Robinson claims that education thrusts out the children's creative capacities. He argues that even though all people have extraordinary talents in their early days, the modern education system does not develop their aptitudes. It is mostly because the current education system puts huge emphasis on useful subjects, but not on others; dancing class is never treated as importantly as mathematics class. Consequently, many talented kids think they have no latent abilities because underestimated subjects are not valued and are even stigmatized. Sir Robinson, thus, urges the education system to broaden its outlook and acclaim children's diverse capacities. Through such process, the knighted sir contends, children would be able to make valuable advancements in the future that is nearly impossible to grasp or predict.
     The idea of developing a favorable environment for children to seek for their talents and to develop such potentials is fabulous. Especially in Korea where math and English are given huge weight, the education system needs to be reformed since it can not fathom extremely diverse talents of children. Then, how should it be changed?
     Introduction of a program that helps children to experience variety of things and a program that offers specialized education would be effective. The programs will assist children to find their talents and develop them. Specialized education is not an education where students learn only one thing. They must learn basic knowledge. It's just that they are learning a subject in a very deep depth rather than studying all subjects in comparatively slight depth.
     Sir Robinson's speech was very congenial to the status quo where education is deteriorating children's creativity. Although I myself think my creativity is quite developed and even though I think KMLA is a very creative place, it is obvious that the current education system must be changed. Contriving a new program that will help children to gain much experiences and offer specialized education on talented field would open a wider opportunity for success to children.


FOR DEBATE MOTIONS,

1. THBT private institutions should be eliminated
2. THBT specialized education should not be offered to young children
3. THBT all classes must be taught for same period of time