I enjoyed Dave Wells comments on creativity and the need for museums to
be leaders in this field. But I also think we should acknowledge and use
the work of others in the field of education to enhance and guide what we
do. These examples are generally outside of public education. I am
thinking of the Waldorf Schools which use the arts as a basis for teaching the
whole curriculum or the Reggio Emilia School in Italy which tries to provide
the 'instruments' for creativity - the words, rapport, solidarity and
love - within an enchanting setting.
Many of the alternative schools in Canada are exploring this (I think some of
the American charter schools are on the same track).We need to look
beyond our own field of study for those with whom we *can*
collaborate just as Howard Gardner has been encouraging
schools to look beyond theirs - to museums. I think 'stand alone'
cultural institutions will be a thing of the past before we get very far
into the future.
Chris Castle
The Ontario Institute for Studies in Education
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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