The Color of Political Correctness

August 25, 2004

What is the color of political correctness? To some teachers it's purple. There is a movement afoot to replace red, as the color of choice for correcting school papers, with purple. Why? According to a recent Boston Globe story, purple is perceived by some politically correct teachers as being more sensitive than red. “If you see a whole paper of red, it looks pretty frightening,” says Sharon Carlson, a health and physical education teacher. “Purple stands out, but it doesn't look as scary as red.”

 

This may sound like some silly practical joke but it isn't. From the same crowd that brought you dodge ball-free playgrounds and musical chairs-free birthday parties - all under the pretense that somebody might get their feelings hurt - comes the latest attempt to banish another time-honored tradition. The legacy of red ink dates back to the 1700s when red ink was used by clerks and accountants to correct ledgers.

 

These politically correct teachers are moving away from correcting papers in red because they don't want to damage the children's self-esteem. Check out this excerpt from the Globe article: “A mix of red and blue, the color purple embodies red's sense of authority but also blue's association with serenity, making it a less negative and more constructive color for correcting student papers, color psychologists said. Purple calls attention to itself without being too aggressive. And because the color is linked to creativity and royalty, it is also more encouraging to students.”

 

This is ridiculous yet some of these PC idiots may be teaching your kids!

 

This small group of nutcase educators is getting support from some of the nutcase color experts. According to Leatrice Eiseman, “The concept of purple as a replacement for red is a pretty good idea.” Eiseman is the director of the Pantone Color Institute in Carlstadt, N.J., and author of five books on color. You have to wonder about someone who devotes five volumes to color. You have to wonder even more about the people who actually read them. “Red is a bit over-the-top in its aggression,” Eiseman added.

 

Over the top in its aggression!?! Corrections on school papers are supposed to get your attention, not soothe your fragile ego. They're designed to point out your mistakes, not make you feel comfortable in your ignorance.

 

If you think this politically correct paper-grading isn't making its way to our parts, think again. A listener to my show e-mailed me with a tale of working as a teacher's assistant and being forced to grade college papers in purple instead of red. He reluctantly agreed but noted on one paper, “The guy whose paper you copied was wrong, too” before giving him a failing grade. Perhaps since it was written in purple it softened the blow.

 

Overly sensitive educators have shunned red for decades but until recently they couldn't reach a consensus on a replacement color. Some have used green or yellow but orange, they say, is a definite no-no because it's too similar to red. Give me a break.

 

Many teachers are bucking the trend. “We need to be honest and forthright with students,” says Carol Jago, a California high school teacher. “Red is honest, direct, and to the point. I'm sending the message, 'I care about you enough to care how you present yourself to the outside world.'” Amen!

 

Political correctness is ruining another generation of promising children in parts of our country. It's up to us as parents to make sure it doesn't seep into our schools. Hopefully when you see purple corrections on your kid's papers it'll have you seeing red.