Willings has already proposed (Gifted Education International
5(3) p146, 1988) that cynicism is an inhibitor of creativity. He also points out that children are getting the message ‘it is smart to be cynical.’ Cynicism is circular. We end up back with the problem and the feeling that we are helpless. Norman (Fodder for the Theorists The Listener 18 Nov 1976) points out that children are taught to agonise and that this is counter productive. Terry (age 12) Judy (age 9) and Jack (age 8) had been given the message ‘it's smart to be cynical’ by certain teachers. All of our exercises at the Willings Clinic are designed to respond to a specific problem.
