From the reports I’ve been getting from all around Canada, our education system is messed up, to the point where it’s even trite to say it. Kids are being over-protected by parents to the point where teachers can’t do their jobs because parents won’t let teachers discipline their kids. Students are falling through the cracks because the system is designed on a specific style of learning that works for some and not for others. Teachers are being stifled by syllabi that don’t offer them the creative slack to enrich the subject matter. We aren’t even sure what makes a good teacher. Teachers don’t get the salary or prestige that should be associated with the position. Despite the fact that students do better when they aren’t graded as often, we continue to hammer them with tests every other week. I could go on.

But the saddest part isn’t the laundry list of problems, it’s that there are many great ideas out there. Ken Robinson is one of those people who seems to be overflowing with great ideas about what’s broken and what we can do to fix it. My favourite point he makes is that the best possible way to suppress creativity is to make people afraid to make mistakes. I mentioned this idea a few years ago when I wrote about how arts could help science eduction. Below, you’ll find four TED talks about great ideas in eduction. Take a look. Maybe you’ll find something you like.