Education.  From the Latin word duco. It means to both lead and to follow.  Education and creativity are completely different.  Education is about organizing individuals into an acceptable societal norm so they can maximize their own potential in that society.  Creativity is that spark of pure imagination that can create both great and terrible consequences.  Sadly our schools are controlled by government and even more sadly government education policy is controlled by the teachers unions. The inmates are truly in charge of the asylum.  And naturally since they are well educated they run it for their own benefit.  We go along with it because our taxes are so high we haven't the money to pay for education privately and even if we did the problem pervades the privates schools too. Send children to school  and expect them to be educated but if you want creativity that is up to you as parents.  Any doubters? Check out the school records of people who have truly made a difference.  Dismal.