2/14/01
Question 68
Dear Preschool Teacher,
The school director where I work has prohibited us
to put up black bulletin paper and black borders. She says that we can
not use the color black in art for preschoolers. I totally object with
that but I have not found any research that can back me up. She says
that black is the absence of color and that this color would give the
children a depressive emotion. Can you help us get information on why
the color black is important to
teach?
Black as a color
Dear Black
as a color,
I, as a teacher with 18 years of
experience, have never seen any research prohibiting using black as a
background color. Black is just another color children like to
explore. The only objection I would have would be if someone
wanted to paint a room black. Children always go through a stage
where they love to color or paint in black. But this stage
passes when they get interested in another color! Sorry I could
not be of much help.
Jackie
"Ask The Preschool Teacher Staff"
Dear Black
as a color,
As an artist and a
preschool teacher I am outraged that anyone would put such a stereotypes
on a crayon color. First off that is not teaching diversity. If your
director has problem with a color she should not impose her views on
these young children. (One of the first thing you are taught when you
start your teaching education.) Children should be able to pick what
color they would like to color with. If they pick black so be it. That
is something the director is just going to have to deal with.
Unfortunately I researched for hours
on-line and was not able to find anything to support this feeling. I
would suggest that you check with your state licensing board. I would
ask them for information. The only proof I have that it is not good to
exclude black is my gut feeling.
Christa
"The Preschool Teacher"
