Judging Creativity

One of my favorite blogs is Logic + Emotion, Digitas Creative Director David Armano's personal blog.  He recently wrote about his son Max's coloring technique.  As you see from the picture, Max's teacher wrote: "Good!  Try Staying in the lines."  Which got David thinking:

Now, I understand that kids need to learn how to color in the lines.  It teaches them basic coordination and concentration.  But what does it teach them about themselves?  What does it teach them about skills that might serve them well one day in the real world?

Couldn't there be an assignment in addition to coloring shapes that maybe included handing them blank sheets of paper and asking them to invent and name a shape that no one has ever heard of before?  Maybe some kid would come up with a Sqoval, or a Tri-square, or even an Octocircle.  Who knows?  The point is that we do need to be taught to do things like coloring shapes at a young age, but shouldn't we also be taught how to invent, create and look at problems from a totally different perspective?

This is one area that sets creative people off.  Do not tell me to stay in the lines, because if you do I'll deliberately run right over them.  And isn't this also what happens between creatives in any field (advertising, television, writing, etc...) and their clients?  So Max is learning that for this assignment he needs to do X.  And his Dad argues that perhaps Max needs another assignment where he can do Y & Z too.  And isn't this what happens in the real world?  We save our big idea for another client, another time. 

And all this reminds my of my very favorite Peanuts strip featuring Sally and her "C" grade on a coat hanger art project.  I can't find the strip to show you but here's what she wondered:

• Was I judged on the piece of sculpture itself?  If so, is it not true that time alone can judge a work of art? 
• Or was I judged on my talent?  If so, is it right that I be judged on a part of life over which I have no control?
• If I was judged on my effort, then I was judged unfairly for I tried as hard as I could! 
• Was I judged on what I had learned about this project?  If so, then were not you, my teacher, also being judged on your ability to transmit your knowledge to me?  Are you willing to share my ‘C’? 
• Perhaps I was being judged on the quality of the coat hanger itself out of which my creation was made.  Is this also not unfair?  Am I to be judged by the quality of coat-hangers that are used by the dry-cleaning establishments that returns our garments?  Is that not the responsibility of my parents?  Should they not share my ‘C’?”

Which just shows you how hard it is to grade creativity.