A parallel case is that often when we teach music - or many other subjects - we teach kids to follow the notes written by earlier geniuses; rare is the teacher who teaches improvisation. Teaching history and past knowledge is essential, but teaching improvisation begets jazz. Not all improvisations fly - and improvisation is hard to grade - but it is a potent balance of structure (back-looking) and freedom (forward-looking).
A parallel case is that often when we teach music - or many other subjects - we teach kids to follow the notes written by earlier geniuses; rare is the teacher who teaches improvisation. Teaching history and past knowledge is essential, but teaching improvisation begets jazz. Not all improvisations fly - and improvisation is hard to grade - but it is a potent balance of structure (back-looking) and freedom (forward-looking).