The Moment of Truth

 

The Moment of Truth 

                                                        By Coach Frank Sagasta 

                                                            November 1st, 2024 

                

Is staying inside the lines, limiting the accomplishments, successes, and fulfillment of students?  Only fourteen years in the field of education and I want to share just my insight, observation, perspective, and research.  

Before I go any further, I hope you read or continuously learn to understand my passion.  I truly enjoy the quality of training people of all ages.  It was the field of education that opened the door for my passion and it can obviously be a bit overwhelming.  It still is a career that is undervalued in today’s society.    

 “The more you learn, the more you earn”

— Warren Buffett

Nonetheless, let’s dive right into the blog.  

So, research shows that 90% of five-year-olds are creative, but unfortunately, only 2% of adults truly are today.  In fact, children’s creativity is associated with skills like creative thinking and problem-solving (Runco, 2004; Runco & Acar, 2012) which are essential ingredients for success.  But are our students actually creating their own creativity or is it limited by the school system or the food they consume?  When an organization silences the ability to think.  It hinders and silences innovation or creativity.  Creative thinking promotes positive emotional development and better emotional understanding in children and adults (e.g., Russ, 1993; Seja & Russ, 1999).  What creativity is, how it is used, and how it is useful for child development are important and open questions today.  

I have been asking myself the question as to what is the long-term effect of too much information or too much screen time?  Is the school system set up to kill creativity?  Should the school system be liable for the mass of laziness and obesity in America today?  Look, don’t kill the massager but schools across America do provide junk food which is toxic and harmful to young cognitive development.  Furthermore, much of the junk food is BANDED from other countries.  The proof is in the pudding—the Nation Institution of Health and Nation Library of Medicine shared an eye-opening article.  From 2001 to 2018, 69% of junk food represented nearly 1 in 5 calories among children, without change, and nearly 1 in 7 calories, with a very modest decrease, among adults, with disparities in subgroups.  America isn't known for being the healthiest country.  Especially, with all our junk food and processed products.  I know for certain this isn't news to most Americans.  I know most won’t take the time to read the whole blog, and that is okay!  However, many people do not realize that other nations have deemed some of our (American) favorite snacks or junk food as unhealthy and dangerous that they're illegal.  YES, ILLEGAL.  And yet, schools don’t mind providing them with a heavy cost.  And we wonder why our education system is failing and why more and more kids are depressed or prescribed new drugs.  

What is the ultimate cost?  I believe some of those answers will be here in the following.  I believe there are several factors contributing to the decline in creativity and love for learning among children in today’s society and at all levels. 

As we proceeded, I had to ask many questions that only you can answer for yourselves.  Again, when was the last time you were in a kindergarten class?  When was the last time you were in a middle school class for more than a day?  When was the last time you spent time in your student's class in high school?  Let’s start with kindergarten— “Caleb, do not pull Suzy‘s hair.” “ Daniel, please stop fighting with Jonathan over the Legos.” “Autumn, please come out from underneath the table thank you.” “Ezra, no eating the glue.” 

Let us move into middle and high school now— “Jackson, no running in the hallway.” “Madison, can you and Charlotte stop talking when I’m talking?”  “John, can you please sit in your chair and take out your pencil and notebook to work today?”  “Frank, Martin, and Jackson, please put your phones away”  “Frank, and Martin, I asked all three of you to please, put your phones away!”  “Natasha, do you have to speak to me like that?”  “Samuel, can you please raise your hand? Or do you have to just spontaneously yell across the room?” 

From the first day of school, many have been taught how to limit their thinking.  To sit in straight rows.  Walk and don’t run.  Speak only when it is your turn.  Color within the lines or it isn’t right.  I am not oppressing the idea of rules, standards, or expectations.  I am simply sharing the value of today’s education through my own experience and observation.  I have shared the interesting notion that our junk food is a huge factor, but what about these other factors: Standardized Education—Many education systems emphasize standardized testing and rigid or rigorous curriculums, which can stifle creativity.  This focus on grades and performance often prioritizes rote memorization over critical thinking and exploration.  Screen Time—The rise of digital devices has led to increased screen time, which can limit opportunities for imagination or creativity.  Passive consumption of media often replaces more active, creative activities.  Parental/guardian Influence—Adults may inadvertently discourage creativity by emphasizing practicality and traditional college versus career paths that open creative pursuits, leading children to prioritize certain subjects over others.  And lastly…FUCK’N Fear of Failure—A culture and society that stigmatizes failure can deter children from taking risks in their learning.  Creativity often involves trial, and error, practice, and training, and a fear of making mistakes can inhibit exploration.  What if Edison was too fearful?  What if those iconic people far to many to mention gave up before they got started because of fear.  Their names and their marks on history would’ve been forgotten.  

Much like today!  I asked a group of high schoolers if they knew Mark Twain?  Some thought he was a president.  

WHAT… then I asked a group of social studies kids in a middle school, does anyone know who Fredrick Douglas or Mark Twain?  They didn’t have the slightest.  

Addressing these issues or concerns requires a shift in how we approach our education, encouraging a bridge between structured learning, creative learning, active learning, and practical exploration of learning.  

Thinkers, dreamers, and action doers!  It’s time to explore the incredible power of thinking outside the lines.  In a world where conformity often reigns, especially in education today.  Those who dare to color outside the lines unleash their full potential.  But, why is thinking outside the lines so powerful?  Here are a few key reasons for my experience and continuous education.  It opens the door to discovering pioneering solutions that can change the game of education for each individual.  It also embraces unconventional thinking which fuels creativity, innovation, and resilience.  It encourages us to experiment, take risks, and embrace our unique perspectives.  And lastly, it causes us to think outside the lines, we can find unexpected solutions to complex challenges, obstacles, and situations.  When we step off the beaten path, we gain a fresh outlook that others may overlook.  Ralph Waldo Emerson the great essayist, writer, author, and leader of American literature credited, "Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.” 

If we don’t get back to the seriousness of education.  A traditional style of learning, America will cease to exist as a thriving nation and be filled with a nation of cognitively distorted individuals who work for bananas.  We will be the nation of idiots as the Green Day song express; “American Idiot.”  In today’s work environment, if we cannot think, we will quickly lose our place of productivity.  Repetitive tasks can be duplicated by idiots, robots, and machinery.  Committing to being a “knowledge citizen” or a “continuous learner.”  No matter your age, sex, race, religion, or culture.   Fostering a sense of seriousness through learning, knowledge, wisdom, curiosity, imagination, and creativity.  It will only produce more meaningful, enjoyable, and achievable successes.  

 

“Do not then train youths to learning by force and harshness, but first them to it by what amuses their minds so that you may be better able to discover with accuracy the peculiar bent of the genius of each.” — Plato

With gratitude, 

Coach Frank Sagasta

Executive Leadership Instructor and Professional Skills Instructor 

H.O.P.E Solution LLC,