Ask The Experts: Matthew Barker

Q: Why are creative skills crucial for students’ development?

A: “Most people think of creative skills as classical art: drama, dance, visual creative art,” says Mathew Barker, seventh- and eighth-grade social studies teacher at Lake Ridge Academy. “But what I think helps a lot of kids is to think of creativity in the realm of science or social studies to be able to ask thought-provoking questions, not just, ‘Why did this happen?’ but ‘How did this happen?’ They’re not only using their creative-thinking skills, but it also makes them use their inquiry skills to try to solve and figure out the problem. Most jobs today, it’s a collaborative workspace where people have to think on their feet and be ready at a moment’s notice.”