Schools Are Killing Children’s Creativity and Confidence

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As an educator with over 18 years of experience, I have had the privilege of working with children from different backgrounds and education systems. I have observed firsthand how students develop or fail to develop the confidence and creativity they need to thrive. And unfortunately, what I have seen is alarming.

Schools, which are meant to be centers of growth and self-discovery, are often the very places where creativity is stifled and confidence is shattered. The rigid structures, outdated questioning techniques, and fear-driven learning environments have robbed children of the ability to think independently, explore freely, and express themselves without hesitation.

The Fear of Being Wrong

Many schools prioritize memorization over critical thinking. Students are taught to find “correct answers” rather than to ask thought-provoking questions. I recall walking into a classroom where a teacher asked, “What is the capital of Uganda?” A student hesitated before responding, “Kampala?” Her uncertainty was met with a sharp, dismissive tone: “I just told you this yesterday! Why are you unsure?”

That moment did something profound, it planted a seed of fear. This child, like many others, learned that making a mistake was unacceptable. Over time, she would likely become hesitant to answer, fearful of judgment.

Albert Einstein once said, “The true sign of intelligence is not knowledge but imagination.” Yet, in many schools today, imagination is discouraged in favor of regurgitated knowledge. This fear-based learning environment produces students who may score well on standardized tests but lack the confidence to think, innovate, and challenge ideas.

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Creativity: A Casualty of Rigid School Systems

Creativity flourishes in spaces where children are free to explore, experiment, and make mistakes without fear of failure. But schools, bound by rigid curricula and relentless grading systems, often do the opposite.

I once visited a school where children were given an assignment to write a story. A student, brimming with enthusiasm, crafted a tale about a talking tree that could heal sick animals. But when he submitted his work, the teacher marked it wrong, stating, “Trees don’t talk. Stick to reality.” His excitement faded, and the next time he was asked to write a story, he simply wrote about his trip to the market. The message was clear: Creativity is not valued here.

Pablo Picasso once said, “Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up.” The education system, instead of nurturing creativity, often forces children into conformity, teaching them to prioritize “correctness” over original thought.

The Confidence Crisis: Why Children Struggle to Express Themselves

Confidence is not something children are born with, it is built through encouragement, opportunities, and the freedom to express themselves without fear or favour. Yet, in many schools, children are conditioned into silence.

I have seen it in classrooms where a child raises a hand to give an answer, only to be told, “That’s not what I was looking for,” or worse, “Does anyone have the right answer?” The child quickly learns that speaking up is risky, that expressing a unique thought might result in embarrassment.

Over time, these experiences shape their self-perception. They start believing that they are not “smart enough” or “good enough” to contribute. By the time they reach adulthood, they struggle with public speaking, decision-making, and asserting themselves in workplaces and relationships. And it all started in the classroom.

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What Can Schools, Teachers, and Parents Do?

The good news is, we can change this. We can create environments where children feel safe to explore, question, and express themselves freely. Here’s how:

For Schools:

  • Shift from rote memorization to critical thinking – Encourage students to ask questions and explore ideas rather than just recalling facts.
  • Foster a mistake-friendly environment – Praise effort and creativity, even when answers are incorrect.
  • Incorporate creative subjects – Arts, music, storytelling, and project-based learning should be valued just as much as math and science.

For Teachers:

  • Ask open-ended questions – Instead of “What is the capital of Uganda?” ask, “Why do you think Kampala became the capital of Uganda?”
  • Encourage diverse perspectives – Let students debate and discuss rather than just receive information.
  • Avoid shaming students for mistakes – Turn errors into learning opportunities rather than reasons for embarrassment.

A Call to Action

It is time to rethink how we educate our children. The world does not need more people who simply follow instructions; it needs innovators, thinkers, and leaders. But if we continue with the same rigid systems, we will raise generations of individuals who are afraid to speak up, take risks, or think creatively.

As educators, parents, and policymakers, we must ask ourselves: Are we raising children to be confident, creative problem-solvers, or are we training them to be silent followers? The future depends on our answer.

Let’s start now.

Contact me for individual training, teacher training sessions or children’s public speaking sessions

Tr. Arthur

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