I have watched countless students at all levels of education change their attitude from apathetic to involved when they learn to trust the teacher’s invitation for an EXPRESSION OF THEIR CREATIVE IDEAS and when a classroom climate guarantees respect for diversity from their peers.

– BERENICE BLEEDORN / AN EDUCATION TRACK FOR CREATIVITY AND OTHER QUALITY THINKING PROCESSES

The many years of independent leadership in the exploration and teaching of creative thinking began gradually to point to a broader mission when it became clear that RADICAL CHANGES IN THE WORLD AND ITS HUMAN AFFAIRS BEGAN TO DEMAND A NEW KIND OF THINKING.

– BERENICE BLEEDORN / AN EDUCATION TRACK FOR CREATIVITY AND OTHER QUALITY THINKING PROCESSES

THE CREATIVE FORCE IS PRESENT IN ALL HUMANS to some degree. Pressures to conform within education and society often silence creative expression for many students and  citizens.  The potential for its development remains, however.

– BERENICE BLEEDORN / AN EDUCATION TRACK FOR CREATIVITY AND OTHER QUALITY THINKING PROCESSES

The right of an individual to create new ideas and to expect a respectful, supportive climate for their expression is a human right too often ignored. The HUMAN RIGHT TO THINK AND BE HEARD at higher, more complex and mutualistic levels is a necessary added freedom if diversity of religion or belief is to be guaranteed for the diverse human family.

– BERENICE BLEEDORN / AN EDUCATION TRACK FOR CREATIVITY AND OTHER QUALITY THINKING PROCESSES

The demands of future leadership and responsible participation in a pluralistic global society require new understandings, new perceptions, new skills, new behaviors, and CRITICAL TO ALL THE REST, NEW WAYS OF THINKING.

– BERENICE BLEEDORN / THE CREATIVITY FORCE IN EDUCATION, BUSINESS AND BEYOND

A great deal of talent important in the TRANSITION TO A JUST, GLOBAL SOCIETY is lost in the world when creative expression and potential in all persons is discouraged.

– BERENICE BLEEDORN / THE CREATIVITY FORCE IN EDUCATION, BUSINESS AND BEYOND

“Bleedorn has done it.  With insight and rigor she has developed a LASTING AND COMPELLING ARGUMENT FOR RETHINKING OUR APPROACH TO EDUCATION.  A special truth emerges about the kind of inspired leadership and creative thinking that is necessary to transform our institutions.”

– MIKE MORRISON / DEAN, UNIVERSITY OF TOYOTA, TOYOTA U.S.A.

The hope is that educational programs will become better designed to make the best possible use of the NATURAL POWER OF THE HUMAN MIND TO GROW AND DEVELOP and to be significantly active in service to a cause beyond oneself.

– BERENICE BLEEDORN / EDUCATION IS EVERYBODY’S BUSINESS: A WAKE-UP CALL TO ADVOCATES OF EDUCATIONAL CHANGE

THERE ARE NO LIMITS to the intellectual resource of the human mind when it is provided with an atmosphere for personal growth.

– BERENICEBLEEDORN / EDUCATION IS EVERYBODY’S BUSINESS: A WAKE-UP CALL TO ADVOCATES OF EDUCATIONAL CHANGE

The idea that ‘Creativity=Capital’ is not a facetious one… The capacity of the human mind for creativity and innovation is unlimited. HARVESTING THE CREATIVITY IN A BUSINESS TRANSLATES TO MONEY IN THE BANK.

– BERENICEBLEEDORN / EDUCATION IS EVERYBODY’S BUSINESS: A WAKE-UP CALL TO ADVOCATES OF EDUCATIONAL CHANGE

CREATIVE THINKING CAN BE TAUGHT if learners can practice the art of being serious and playful at the same time.

– BERENICEBLEEDORN / EDUCATION IS EVERYBODY’S BUSINESS: A WAKE-UP CALL TO ADVOCATES OF EDUCATIONAL CHANGE

Justice, punishment and crime prevention have natural connections to creativity, individuality and personhood.

– BERENICEBLEEDORN / THE CREATIVITY FORCE IN EDUCATION, BUSINESS AND BEYOND

The educational problem of a disparity between average achievement scores of white students and black students may have some of its origin in the NATURE OF SCHOOLING THAT NEGLECTS PROGRAMS THAT IDENTIFY CREATIVE TALENT and fails to provide for its appropriate expression in problem solving and other creative thinking activities.

– BERENICEBLEEDORN / EDUCATION IS EVERYBODY’S BUSINESS: A WAKE-UP CALL TO ADVOCATES OF EDUCATIONAL CHANGE

Educators have not only an opportunity but an obligation to open the ‘doors of perception’ for all students. The enduring PURPOSE OF EDUCATION IS TO PROVIDE STUDENTS WITH A PERCEPTION OF THE OUTER REACHES OF THEIR TALENTS and possibilities and, ideally, to give them a reason to continue to learn and contribute to their society for all of their lives.

– BERENICEBLEEDORN / EDUCATION IS EVERYBODY’S BUSINESS: A WAKE-UP CALL TO ADVOCATES OF EDUCATIONAL CHANGE

Teachers and parents can testify to the EXCITEMENT EXPRESSED BY STUDENTS WHEN THEY DISCOVER AND LEARN ABOUT NATURE AND THE DIVERSITIES OF LIFE in the field or stream or forest.

– BERENICEBLEEDORN / EDUCATION IS EVERYBODY’S BUSINESS: A WAKE-UP CALL TO ADVOCATES OF EDUCATIONAL CHANGE

“We have to realize that A CREATIVE BEING LIVES WITHIN OURSELVES, WHETHER WE LIKE IT OR NOT, and that we must get out of its way, for it will give us no peace until we do.”

– MARYRICHARDS / CENTERING IN POTTERY, POETRY AND THE PERSON

CHILDREN AND YOUTH ARE ALL MUCH SMARTER THAN WE THINK.  THEY ARE SMARTER THAN THE STANDARDIZED TEST SCORES TELL US.  They have a longer tomorrow than adults, and most of them think about it more than we realize. Students have a right to understand what is happening to the world that they are inheriting.

– BERENICEBLEEDORN / EDUCATION IS EVERYBODY’S BUSINESS: A WAKE-UP CALL TO ADVOCATES OF EDUCATIONAL CHANGE

The mandate is undeniable. THE FUTURE OF THE ENVIRONMENT CAN BE GUARANTEED ONLY WITH THE DETERMINED EFFORT OF ALL THE PLAYERS IN THE WORLD DRAMA IN EVERY SOCIETY, and there is no time to lose. It is a perfect project for the integration of schools and society, the community and the education profession.  It is a time for personal action and resolve.

– BERENICEBLEEDORN / EDUCATION IS EVERYBODY’S BUSINESS: A WAKE-UP CALL TO ADVOCATES OF EDUCATIONAL CHANGE

Initiatives from concerned citizens and business interests have a vital place in DEVELOPING EDUCATIONAL OUTCOMES THAT CAN BE COMPETITIVE WITH THE REST OF THE DEVELOPING WORLD and can continue to contribute to a better life for all.

– BERENICEBLEEDORN / EDUCATION IS EVERYBODY’S BUSINESS: A WAKE-UP CALL TO ADVOCATES OF EDUCATIONAL CHANGE

Paradoxical thinking is a prerequisite for a society and world steeped in a diversity of cultures, religions and ideologies if we ever hope to achieve a more sane and peaceful world. If complex thinking were taught, practiced and modeled during the process of education everywhere, THE PEOPLE OF THE WORLD WOULD UNDERSTAND MORE AND FIGHT LESS.

– BERENICEBLEEDORN / EDUCATION IS EVERYBODY’S BUSINESS: A WAKE-UP CALL TO ADVOCATES OF EDUCATIONAL CHANGE

DEMOCRACY DESERVES THE BEST THINKING POSSIBLE.

– BERENICEBLEEDORN / EDUCATION IS EVERYBODY’S BUSINESS: A WAKE-UP CALL TO ADVOCATES OF EDUCATIONAL CHANGE

“THE GENIUS OF THE FUTURE WILL BE THE CREATIVE MIND ADAPTING ITSELF TO THE SHAPE OF THINGS TO COME. This will require ‘Satori’ bursts of new insights. The skills of creative thinking must be recognized as human kind’s most important adaptability skills. Such skills must become basic to the curriculum of schools, homes, businesses and other agencies.”

– E. PAUL TORRANCE / THE SEARCH FOR SATORI AND CREATIVITY

Love of homeland is not opposite, but is compatible with planetary citizenship.  Genuine solidarity and respect for differences can coexist.  It is time to acknowledge the concept that WARS AND INJUSTICES BEGIN IN THE MINDS OF MEN AND WOMEN and that the human family is overdue for a major mind change.

– BERENICEBLEEDORN / THE CREATIVITY FORCE IN EDUCATION, BUSINESS AND BEYOND

OUR COMMON HUMANITY CAN TRANSCEND THE VIOLENCE THAT COMES FROM DIFFERENCES if people can be educated to become better thinkers.

– BERENICEBLEEDORN / THE CREATIVITY FORCE IN EDUCATION, BUSINESS AND BEYOND

Creative qualities of INDEPENDENCE OF THOUGHT, RISK TAKING, TOLERANCE FOR AMBIGUITY, CURIOSITY, AND SENSITIVITY mark the creative individualists who have been said to be ‘the conscience of the crowd.’

– BERENICEBLEEDORN / THE CREATIVITY FORCE IN EDUCATION, BUSINESS AND BEYOND

THE RIGHT OF AN INDIVIDUAL TO CREATE NEW IDEAS and to expect a respectful, supportive climate for their expression is a human right too often ignored.

– BERENICEBLEEDORN / THE CREATIVITY FORCE IN EDUCATION, BUSINESS AND BEYOND

When systems for freedom and democracy function according to stated design, everyone involved bears responsibility not only for knowledge, but also for processing information creatively and critically to arrive at participation in JUDGMENTS THAT PERCEIVE BEYOND SELF-INTEREST TO THE COMMON GOOD, beyond our region and beyond our time.

– BERENICEBLEEDORN / THE CREATIVITY FORCE IN EDUCATION, BUSINESS AND BEYOND

SINCE SOCIETY’S CAPACITY FOR CHANGE DEPENDS UPON THE THINKING OF INDIVIDUALS WHO MAKE IT UP, enlightened universal education will have to foster learning that will produce planetary leadership talents, while at the same time protect the national and cultural diversities of the global family.

– BERENICEBLEEDORN / THE CREATIVITY FORCE IN EDUCATION, BUSINESS AND BEYOND

Although some of the planet’s resources are finite, the reason for unwarranted optimism is that the HUMAN MIND IS UNLIMITED IN ITS CAPACITY TO THINK, grow, plan ahead, and act in terms for the common good.

– BERENICEBLEEDORN / THE CREATIVITY FORCE IN EDUCATION, BUSINESS AND BEYOND