Are you worried that today's kids just aren't coddled enough?  A new study out of the University of Colorado has found that teachers shouldn't use RED PENS to correct mistakes, because it makes children ANXIOUS.  Instead, they say teachers should use kinder, gentler blue pens.  According to the study, kids said that when teachers use a red pen to make comments, it's like being, "shouted at."

The Colorado study said this "emotional loading" could alter the student's perception of criticism and place unnecessary blame on the teacher for bad marks or feedback.  They went on to suggest that teachers use blue pens if they wanted their comments to be taken in a constructive manner.

Can the colour of a teacher's pen really have such a negative impact on learning?  Isn't the value of the criticism and the relationship between student and teacher far more meaningfull than the colour of a pen?