The Changing Tide: Education and Creativity

I am noticing the tide shifting.  The early 2000's saw the No Child Left Behind Act, a re-authorization of the ESEA that placed heavy emphasis on testing. This created an environment in which schools felt pressured to perform; efficiency and results on the "important tests." It was important that schools made "AYP."  Compliance was more vital.  Arts classes were asked to find ways to better serve the scores of math and language.
In my own unscientific analysis I find schools to be recognizing the dangers of a narrow-minded education.  Of course educators of the arts know that the latest re-authorization of ESEA is the Every Student Succeeds Act.  This act clearly calls for students to receive a more well-rounded education inclusive of the arts (with music mentioned specifically).
In my own school district, school district and building leaders work very hard to balance the needs for student achievement with students' needs for a well-rounded education inclusive of  the arts, sciences, humanities, character, physical education.  In fact, this upcoming school year we look to  go "all-in" on Carol Dweck's research in Growth Mindset, an important concept which helps all persons understand that skills and intelligence can be grown or developed.  We hope that teachers will work to help students develop a meta-cognitive understanding of how they process setbacks and successes.  Growth Mindset is gaining in popularity, and rightfully so - students need to be emotionally available for learning, and strategies to help students become less "fixed" helps with that emotional availability.  Coupled with helping students to develop "grit" we can help students to dig in and reach successes that surprise themselves.  It is exciting that more schools are adopting this "whole-child" approach.

In the video attached to this post, Scott Barry Kaufman briefly shares an important idea that reminds us that students are individuals; they reach success and are motivated differently.  He briefly touches upon the difference between Grit and Creativity.  Gritty students and Creative students will both ultimately progress in their skills - but they will do it in different ways.  

"One of the best predictors of lifelong creative achievement was the extent to which children in elementary school fell in love with a dream when they were young"
-Scott Barry Kaufman (quoting research by E. Paul Torrence)