Creativity is just as important as literacy and should be prioritized in schools.

It’s important to note that while everyone is born an artist, it’s through practice in which skill is developed. As many students progress through the years they seem to notice their creativity fading. At the same time, they adapt to remembering terms and standardized testing.

Creativity encourages students to approach challenges with unique perspectives and promotes a deeper understanding of concepts.

Sophomore Hari Ghatpande believes that creativity is an essential part of education.

“Creativity is being able to use your imagination and approach problems in unique ways,” Ghatpande said. “I think with school, it’s good to have a balance between literacy and creativity. I see that, throughout the school years, it forces people to think a certain way.”

Creative Writing teacher Ms. Reagan Lattari thinks creativity is a valuable skill that should be practiced and encouraged in school, and that the lack of creativity goes deeper than just the curriculum itself.

“A problem with creativity in our school is the social pressure,” Lattari said. “There’s a lot of pressure to take all these math classes and sometimes students don’t take some of these other electives.”

Sophomore Pearl Tweedy agrees that the environment of the school plays a big role in students’ creativity.

“I definitely think that it’s also just how the people around our school are,” Tweedy said. “I think that people are pressured to follow others and it’s not allowing them to express themselves creatively. I feel like that is one of the big things that is making it hard for creativity to be taught more in schools.”

Junior Isaac Peeler feels like there is a creative aspect missing from the school, not just in the curriculum, but also in the environment.

“I feel like there isn’t a lot of art around,” Peeler said. “I feel like if there were more of students’ work hung up it would encourage students to participate more in creativity.”

Creativity is a very important skill for students to develop. Students and teachers seem to notice that in Strath Haven creativity isn’t being prioritized enough and with more encouragement and teaching of it, it can benefit students.