Encouraging creativity in the classroom (Issues and innovations in education) [Paperback]

E. Paul Torrance (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback: 133 pages
• Publisher: W. C. Brown Co (1970)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0697060780
• ISBN-13: 978-0697060785
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.9 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,077,553 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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5.0 out of 5 stars Highly Reccomended, May 10, 2005

By 

Steven H. - See all my reviews

This review is from: Encouraging creativity in the classroom (Issues and innovations in education) (Paperback)

Torrance preaches a very different style of teaching than many are accustomed to today. While this book is geared towards younger, underprivleged children, I believe the same techniques (with slight modification) could be practiced at any level. His key principles are those that inspire the student to solve the problems himself. He wants teachers to ask students questions that will allow them to think and develop their own answers, rather than telling them what is right and wrong. For example, he writes that teachers should ask students questions that they do not already know the answer to. Ask students questions to learn information from them, not to simply test their knowledge of what you have taught them.

In the book, Torrance writes of a frightening study of which characteristics parents and teachers around the world find most and least desirable in children. Towards the bottom of the list was "always asking questions". While this may not come as a shock, it certainly reveals a serious flaw in the upbringing and teaching of young children. Torrance recognizes this flaw, and writes this book to provide some direction of the inadequacies of the current system.

Keep in mind while reading though, this book was written in the early 70's, and some of the teaching methods have been refined since then. The practicality of Torrance's methods may be somewhat questionable as well, as they will often be far more time-consuming than the system of teaching currently in place. For example, Torrance's "creative reading", where the reader puts himself in the position of the subject, as opposed to just reading passively, will certainly slow down the student's pages per minute, even though he will ultimately have a far greater understanding and ability to remember the material later on.

In sum, this is a great book for teachers of all levels to pick up. I believe many students could benefit from reading it as well, as it will present them with an alternative to dreading learning and schoolwork that the current system presents. I would not suggest following Torrance to the fullest extent possible, but taking his ideas into account to a smaller degree will certainly be beneficial for everyone.