Today I gave permission.
I gave 3rd grade art students permission to be creative.
I was substitute teaching for an elementary art class, leading them in a Christmas card craft. It was a pop-up tree card, where you would open it to find a Christmas tree protruding from the paper. They were instructed to decorate the card however they wanted to around the tree. It was a cute craft, and not too complicated. A little cutting, a little gluing, and a few folds in the right spots.
When I explained the craft to the 4th graders, they immediately were inspired to create and express their unique ideas! Some put one tree, others put two or three. Some drew forests, others drew living room scenes. There were colorful ornaments on some, while others followed a silver-and-gold color scheme. I saw stockings hung on fireplaces, and even fireplaces protruding from the paper like the trees! They listened to my instructions and then followed their intuition to create something of their own.
The third grade class came in next, and although there is only one year separating these students, they could not have been more different. I gave them the same instruction, citing the same opportunity for creative liberties. I even shared some of the diversity I saw in the previous class. And right before I released them to the supply cabinet for paper, glue, and glitter, I asked if they had any questions.
“Can I make two trees?”
“Can I draw my elf on the shelf?”
“Can I use markers?”
These questions, followed by a handful more, all were answered positively. “Yes, you can do whatever you want.” But still, even with this all-encompassing qualifier, they asked for more permissions.
I was only the sub, so maybe their regular art teacher would have given different instructions. Maybe that teacher would want them to metaphorically color-in-the-lines more, so the permission I gave was too loose. Maybe they have a routine they follow, keeping order in the classroom and preventing certain autonomy. Maybe they’re just too young to know how to properly exercise the statement “you can do whatever you want.” So I gave them permission, over and over again, to be creative and decorate their cards however they wanted to.
I don’t know their names; I only saw them for 40 minutes after all. I didn’t give them a grade. My responsibility to them was just instruction, providing respite for the regular teacher who needed to be out of the classroom. They will probably not remember Mrs. Fry after today. The craft is probably already in the trash or lost under a car seat.
But I hope they will remember to be creative.
Today I gave permission to elementary art students to be creative. Today I give you this permission, too.
