Is Our Education System Hurting Entrepreneurship? In a recent panel, eminent philosopher Sir Ken Robinson outlined how educational systems around the globe are failing to foster an entrepreneurial spirit.

By Geoff Weiss

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

In a world beset by economic challenges, cultural discord and environmental deterioration, the English philosopher Sir Ken Robinson believes he has the solution to man's most fundamental problems: Imagination.

An evolved notion of creativity is humanity's defining trait, Robinson says, in that it allows us to examine the past as well as anticipate the future to constantly reinvent our lives. But many of us have lost touch with an imaginative outlook.

To more fully tap into this part of ourselves, Robinson takes issue with the state of our educational system -- which he asserts "employs 21st century technology, but with a 19th century mindset." It hasn't changed much since its inception, he argues, and tends to marginalize our best gifts.

Related: Dell and Students Look to Entrepreneurship to Reform the Education System

Robinson spoke at a panel on thought leadership held last month in New York that also featured former President Bill Clinton and was sponsored by The Fragrance Foundation.

According to Robinson, there are three ways in which the global education system needs to change in order to foster the kind of entrepreneurial thinking that is crucial to the success -- and survival -- of the world:

1. Its emphasis on conformity. While human life flourishes on the prospect of diversity, schools often box us into predetermined curricula that can feel both impractical and stale. By studying subjects that don't help us in the grand scheme of what we'd ultimately like to accomplish, schools act like machines that prize standardization and efficiency when people are far more complicated than that, Robinson says.

2. Its emphasis on compliance. Whereas teachers follow regimens to curb disobedience, real energy comes from creativity and diversion, he asserts. An emphasis on discipline can yield harrowing statistics: one-third of high school students don't even graduate and 50 percent of adults claim that they are depressed and unengaged at work, Robinson said.

Related: Twitter's Latest Acqui-Hire Drives Continuing Education for Employees

3. Its emphasis on a linear path. Our educational system operates under the assumption that everyone should follow the same path -- from elementary school through to university -- when, in fact, life is composed organically, moment by moment, according to Robinson. Some of the most celebrated business luminaries -- Richard Branson and Steve Jobs among them -- did not graduate from college.

And innovation is never linear. Kodak, for instance, was seen as the iPad of its day, Robinson said, but is now bankrupt -- its cameras more likely to be found in a museum than in common use. Eventually, the iPad will become a bygone relic, too.

If, as H.G. Wells put it, "civilization is a race between education and catastrophe," every day is an opportunity to learn something new. But in order to triumph, it is crucial to tap into our innate powers. As Robinson ultimately sees it: "Creativity is putting imagination to work, and innovation is putting good ideas into practice."

Related: How the Changing Education Landscape is Helping Entrepreneurs

Geoff Weiss

Former Staff Writer

Geoff Weiss is a former staff writer at Entrepreneur.com.

Editor's Pick

Related Topics

Business Ideas

This Teacher Sells Digital Downloads for $10. Her Side Hustle Now Makes Six Figures a Month: 'It Seems Too Good to Be True, But It's Not.'

When one middle school teacher needed to make some extra income, she started a remote side hustle with no physical products and incredibly low overhead. Now she brings in six figures each month, and offers courses teaching others how to do the same.

Business News

An Ivy League University Is Teaching the Secret of Taylor Swift's Success

Several major universities have added courses dedicated to studying Swift's star power.

Marketing

Google Is About to Delete Inactive Accounts. Here's How to Avoid A Massive Gmail Bounce Rate.

Google will start deleting inactive accounts soon. For businesses like yours, that means many Gmail contacts will probably bounce. Here's how you can avoid that – and keep your business emails landing in the inbox.

Living

'I Haven't Ticked All the Boxes Yet.' Hilary Duff Reveals Her Next Venture After More Than 2 Decades in the Spotlight — and the Surprisingly Relatable Key to Her Enduring Success

The actor talks entrepreneurship, secrets to success and her latest role as chief brand director for Below 60°, a product line of air fragrances.

Business News

Red Lobster Lost Nearly $11 Million Because People Love Endless Shrimp: 'We Need to Be Much More Careful'

The restaurant chain, which is owned by Thai Union Group, made the promotion a menu mainstay in June.