Inculcating

Inculcating
creativity in
our daily life

Dewi Susanti
Jakarta

Muhammad Zuhdi wrote an attractive article entitled Education
and Creativity, published in The Jakarta Post on April 2. The
article discussed the importance of creativity and suggested that
it should be part of formal education, a message the author
strongly agrees with.

However, the author thinks that change will take a long time
and will take more than shifting the paradigm of the education
system. This article discusses several reasons why nurturing
creativity within an Indonesian context is a long and complex
process, and thus needs to involve all stakeholders in education:
society, communities, schools, teachers and parents alike.

To begin with, we should acknowledge the fact that some
schools do develop creative thinking habits in their students,
and that some teachers have independently attempted to do so.
Often, however, the system is not supported by its human
resources.

Most teachers are not equipped with a knowledge of factors
that could encourage or discourage creativity, and they are not
trained in teaching approaches that develop creativity. On the
other hand, teachers who do have the knowledge and the training
in fostering creativity are often not supported by the system.
How could this happen?

Weiner (2000) states that freedom, democracy and tolerance
encourage creative expression. Are these traits naturally
embedded in our society? Giving opinions to those more senior in
age or in position is often considered disrespectful. On the
other hand, those who allow democracy to take place are often
challenged with issues of discipline and boundaries. Within a
society that is not quite conducive to creativity, how can we
nurture it?

Creative development is influenced by both internal and
external factors. Social and cultural values, the way we raise
and educate children -- both through parenting as well as
schooling -- and the school's as well as the home's physical and
psychological environment all contribute to the attitude,
personality, cognitive and psychological development of the
child.

Given this context, the author would like to step back a
little and ask the question: who is responsible for education? Is
the government the only institution to carry this burden? Are
schools the only place where a student's mind and attitude can be
nurtured? Are teachers the only ones whom students can learn
from?

The author would like to suggest that change can and needs to
start outside the formal educational system. If Indonesian
society is to foster creativity, then it needs to start from
within its smallest nucleus, i.e. the family. Many parents may
already see creativity as a positive trait, yet, how many truly
believe in the urgency of nurturing creativity in their children?

Many parents would rather leave the "serious" task of
children's education to the "authorities" -- in this case formal
education institutions and teachers, for reasons of feeling
inadequate or worse, for not having the time.

Parents, and those who spend time with students, however, are
more likely to influence their education and the development of
their attitude. The time we spend with students outside of school
also comes in a more "natural" learning context -- where what
they learn is more relevant to and applicable in daily life.

Although the development of creative thinking and attitude
should ideally be emphasized in the formal education system in
Indonesia, active participation from parents and other parties
close to students is extremely important.

Meanwhile, from within the formal education system, the
incorporation of creative thinking habits and skills needs to
start with the belief in their importance and inclusion into the
curricula, reinforced by training teachers in developing
creativity. Parents and teachers need to be informed about ways
to ignite the creative spirits of children, and need to become
good role models. By making creativity part of our daily lives we
stand in a better position to bring about change, including to
the national education system.

The author is the creative director of Art Explore, an art
studio for the young, and lecturer at Universitas Indonesia and
Universitas Pelita Harapan. She can be reached at:
dewi@studio213b.com.