tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5594341074652821017.post7835652489507544570..comments2023-08-14T10:44:59.007-04:00Comments on Novel Spaces: In the Hallowed HallsKeVin K.http://www.blogger.com/profile/14792797517571690942noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5594341074652821017.post-11612703164606029492010-04-21T19:06:44.533-04:002010-04-21T19:06:44.533-04:00LIANE, I'm not around small children much, so ...<b>LIANE</b>, I'm not around small children much, so I was interested to learn that. That makes visiting schools or children's events even more important for an author. <br /><br />I agree that most people stop seeing themselves as creative, and I blame the school system. There's such an emphasis on developing "natural talent" instead of viewing kids as able to learn just about anything, just with varying degrees of difficulty. For example, the selection for band in my hometown's school system is the same as when I was in school 40 years ago: Instead of asking what kind of instrument you <b>want</b> to play, they give you a test to find out what instrument fits your current abilities best. One would think it obvious that fewer kids would drop out of music lessons if given an instrument they want to play, even if it's harder for them than something else. <br /><br />I believe that achievement is at least 90% hard work and that talent plays a minor role except for the crême de la crême de la crême, such as Lance Armstrong or Yoyo Ma.Shauna Robertshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03871768714926149114noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5594341074652821017.post-68250767540760042422010-04-12T13:48:50.238-04:002010-04-12T13:48:50.238-04:00I read recently where ALL small children are rarin...I read recently where ALL small children are raring to create, and never say they can't sing or dance or draw or tell a story. Somehow as the years pass the vast majority of people stop believing in their creative ability. <br /><br />Interacting with creative people must surely encourage young people to see that creative pursuits can be viable.Liane Spicerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05035607144500219524noreply@blogger.com