Color

The earth is revolving its way into an equinox position, releasing northerners from the grip of darkness.  The glorious beauty of sunrises and sunsets is once again evident as salmony pinks and wisps of silver nuzzle into the iron grayness of winter. Illusions of green poke out from under the melting snow. Black and white chickadees search for food morsels in the the shaggy bark of trees. Cardinals command attention with their flaming coats and melodic songs.  It is no surprise that upper Midwesterners crave color after a winter of gray slush, leafless vegetation and dirt encrusted vehicles.

Maybe that has something to do with the latest craze for coloring books. I haven't done an ounce of research on this subject so be forewarned that my observations are born of a fascination with this movement rather than any kind of expertise. I am amazed at all the adult coloring books nestled among the tabloids at every checkout counter. A checkout clerk shared with me that she can't wait to get home in the evening so she can start coloring.The books have titles such as Color Me Calm, Creative Haven, NatureScapes and Color Therapy. There are coloring magazines ensuring a fresh set of pictures and designs for each month. There are books dedicated to your favorite televisions shows such as Dr. Who and Game of Thrones. Even my eighty-seven-year-old mother, not known to be an arts and crafts person, loves her coloring books, so much so that she signs each completed picture.

All of this puzzles me. Throughout recent years of teaching, the subliminal message sent to me and my fellow educators in my district has been one of anti-coloring and hands-on project designing. Technology, technology, technology, the only way of the future. Students should be choosing prefabricated template designs for their powerpoint presentations so they are prepared for pitching ideas and products in the "real world."  Modern Writer backgrounds replaced Cornflower blue crayons. Glowing computer screens replaced poster paper. The sound of projects is reduced to the tapping of computer keys rather than the sliding of color splashes on paper and the chatter of students exploring artistic design.

Don't get me wrong, I believe students need to know how to use technology for their future success. Schlepping a poster into a high-powered business meeting might not be advisable for career advancement. But, let children explore non-pixelated designing, please. Few things can compare to the the joy of opening a fresh box of crayons and reading color names such as Robin's Egg Blue and Vivid Tangerine. Inspiration is further goaded by a mass of white paper begging for the personal touch of a student's imagination.

My niece recently shared with me that she is becoming weary of computer projects. "I just wish I could design something real again." Perhaps our zeal to prepare children for future jobs eclipsed our sense of what developing minds often need, the calming power of coloring. I don't have to teach kids how to text, snapchat, click buttons, stare at screens or shut themselves off with a computer. I do, however, have an obligation to let them explore possibilities that exist outside of the techie world.

Powerpoints and Google Drives are still in the future for my students, but, look out, I just bought a bunch of new 24-count Crayola sets. Let the coloring begin.