Most standardized education models have always seemed like a form of manufactured accountability to me. That is to say: they are a self-perpetuating cycle, a way for institutions and individuals to justify their continued presence within the modern financial systems. The problem with the model is that it suffers from similar ailments as societies in general: gentrification, racism, classism, chauvinism, and all other ‘isms.’ Outwardly, they would seem to have accountability to society but in reality, they can be— and often have been— coopted by self-interested individuals whose goals are not the betterment of education and society but their own financial and academic security. Of course this isn’t always the case but I’ve seen it happen in many institutions, as I imagine most of us have seen.

Prioritizing the arts during basic education seems like the natural response to this linear, static way of thinking about educational models. The creativity and adaptability inherent in the arts are the clearest ways to counteract the increasing dependency on standardization. Replicability is not equal to accountability and replicability does not mean educational success. Sir Ken Robinson has three very interesting lectures on education on TED Talks. He explains how this mass-production model for education is not effective for the current state of civilization. He shows how the assembly line model was conceived during the Enlightenment and was established to specialize us from the feet up. First, they teach you to sit and stay still; then, you take away movement from the waist up; you keep going up the body as you progress through the system until you only specialize one hemisphere and end up with the linear thinking. In its current state, the only way for this educational system to continue to perpetuate itself is through standardized testing and to call any personality falling outside its norms ‘abnormal.’ Case in point: the ADHD ‘epidemic’. The arts have the power to break with this linear thinking and encourage free-association. Our brains can be trained and focused into powerful tools if we are taught how to exercise them in a more complete manner. The study of Philosophy, History, Math, Sciences, Arts, and Physical Education are just as important as teaching social skills and healthy habits. STEM is not an answer, it is a symptom of the absolute pursuit of income and resources. 

Like Ken Robinson says: “If you’re not prepared to be wrong, you’ll never come up with anything original.”