Unfortunately, after formal schooling starts, many children subscribe to the popular notion that a tree is a brown stick with a green lollipop top. Think of some beautiful flowers. Now draw a flower. Chances are that you drew a circle with a series of little humps around it. Before I go any further, let me say that I have taught in public and private schools and that I recognize that there seem to be some common reasons why teachers tend to use the more directed approach when it comes to art.
Teachers face three main obstacles to allowing creativity in their classrooms.
First, many teachers have a pathetically low yearly budget. Third, many teachers have low levels of developmental knowledge when it comes to art and often, a sense of their artistic ability as being inferior. The budget issue is the most easily addressed of the three. The time issue is more delicate. Students could easily make collages or do other projects at home.