Article:  “Human Ingenuity”          Bali International School

On a website for Bali International School is an explanation for why the investigation of ingenuity makes perfect educational sense.  The brief essay begins with two essential questions: Why and how do we create?  What are the consequences?

The second question, in particular, drives why the discussion of human ingenuity matters at all.  We are an incredibly capable species and will continue to innovate, develop, explore, construct, invent, destroy, rationalize, and solve for all the time that we are given in this world.  Helping students explore the consequences of human thought and action is germane to what good schools try to achieve in their classrooms.

Using history to find examples of this behavior helps students to understand how human contributions is an ongoing process and shows humans as logical, clever, devious, and fallible.

Moving past concrete examples, students should also look at how ingenuity affects relationships and draws into question scientific, ethical, aesthetic, and technological consequences.  Both positive and negative consequences can be recognized by students when they explore the immensity of this field.

This area of study can involve the whole school community in a holistic view of “human activity” and can generate open-ended discussions and further investigation into the constructive and destructive forces of humans.  The ethical issues relating to progress and the responsibility that each individual and nation must accept in regards to human ingenuity is a way for students to explore the role of the individual within the confines of an integrated world.

Although the above writing is a summary of the piece that I read from the Bali International School, I also added in my own summation of what the author was trying to say.  I specifically chose this piece because I thought it tried to assess the importance of exploring the ingenuity of mankind within the context of an education.  I also appreciated how they assess both sides of the ingenious ability to create but also destroy at the same time.  I always liked the saying “for every action, there is a reaction”.  Though simple it can be taken at so many levels such as the literal, figurative, metaphysical, chemical, and inter-personal.  We never know when we speak, act, or create what the reaction to our action may result in.  That is another reason why this subject is worth exploring and pondering.  It relates to our overall characteristics as a species.