Curiosity, creativity, and cognition: A window into Jeanne Bamberger's work

Abstract

The phrase “Curiosity killed the cat” often serves as a warning to children that if they are too curious, they could get into trouble. Parents use it when they have been bombarded with too many ''why'' questions and teachers have been known to use it when students' infinite questions threaten to veer their lessons off track and threaten their control. Yet, one of the many paradoxes of formal schooling is that teachers often repress students’ natural proclivity to ask questions and express their curiosity, wasting some of the most productive motivation for learning, exploring, and developing creative musical thinking.