Creativity, Another Vote for

I reflected on my thoughts about Sir Ken Robinson's TED Talk earlier.

We are currently on a Fall Break from school and I come across this video on Google. It is a street drummer...and he is awesome.

I couldn't help but recall Robinson's story about the woman with the Royal Ballet, who choreographed Cats and Phantom of the Opera. She was not doing well in school, she couldn't sit still, and her mother takes her to a psychiatrist. The psychiatrist says she's not sick, she's a dancer. The mother enrolls her daughter in a dance school. Robinson interviewed the dancer/choreographer and asked her what she thought of the dance school. She said it was great. There were other children who could not think UNLESS they moved. If you haven't see Robinson's TED Talk, it is must viewing for educators.

Back to the drummer. I see this video and think...I wonder how he did in school? Was he even in band? He doesn't use the "right equipment." He isn't holding the drum sticks correctly. He is drumming below his waste. If he was in band, what was his grade? Did he "fit in" in his other classes? Is he literate? [based on the Robinson questions]. Did public education provide him what he needed to become who he is?

Then my bigger question...why is he a street drummer? Why hasn't some band grabbed him by now? Maybe they have, but I would be surprised. Then again, on Google video he may become known, and "be discovered." I found him, and I wasn't looking for him. Furthermore, I was lead to think about "deeper things" because I found him. Huh. Imagine that.

Here's the video.