I remember a talk given by an educational consultant to an audience of returning teachers and administrators in my local school district. It was years ago, but his words have always stayed with me.
If you go into a classroom of preschoolers or kindergartners and ask, “Who can draw me a sun?” All hands will eagerly go up. “I can, I can.” By the fourth grade, not all the hands will raise. By high school, only a few hands will go up, usually with a comment, “Oh, John is an artist.” By adulthood, the lines are clearly drawn on those who consider themselves artists and those who do not. Most have given up on any notions of having fun with words, colors, or music-making.
