Crayons are part of most supply lists for students going to elementary school.

Crayons are part of most supply lists for students going to elementary school. There are many different colored crayons found in a collection. Individual colored crayons serve unique purposes and achieve their own goals. They make an important part of the learning community. This resembles the teachers that are involved in the education of children. It is also a part of the requirement of learning cultures within corporations, not for profits, charitable organizations and any family. A crayon has its own unique tint and colors a picture noticeably, and each individual brings their own personalities, opinions, and their own agendas to the educational and organizational picture. Have you ever seen a child color a picture with just one color? Using one color of the choice of many crayons is often used to complete a picture. It does the job the user requires without using any of the other colors. This is what individuals old and young do. They complete their task on their own without the assistance from others.

Crayons are organized in groups of color families. The color families are brought together because of their similarities and the way they complement each other. Each of the crayon families seem to blend easily together and can create beautiful things within their own group. Though crayons are inanimate objects, the way they are used presents a vivid similarity to home, school, and community groups. Each of these groups comes together on their own based on their similarities in interests, opinions, and purpose. They work tirelessly for their cause, each group on its own, trying to do what is best for their interests.

Yet with both the crayon groups and the home–school–community groups, no matter how wonderful the results are, how hard each individual group works to find a purpose, the picture can be incomplete. The picture may not be able to reach its full effectiveness. When crayons are used together by the blending of colors, the groups working together to further enhance the beauty of the picture, using complementary colors from other families, everything seems to come together. What was once a basic picture, full of creativity yet missing something, the vibrancy of every one of the crayons can be used together to make a beautiful picture. Isn’t this true in the efforts of the three groups; home, school, and community? Each group has something to offer that is good. They can work together to create opportunities to learn, encourage our children to be active in their learning, and help enhance the quality of education in the school. The groups can create a beautiful educational picture. Working together the home, school, community relationships has the opportunity to help build a positive school system within their community.

A word of caution should be acknowledged though. Crayons are delicate instruments. They can break if not cared for. Crayons also need to be renewed. If we use the crayons over and over again, they will wear down and not be as effective. Crayons must be replaced so that colors can remain vibrant. In this regard relationships between home-school-community are very similar. They can be delicate and can break if not nurtured and cared for. It is important to recognize that the people involved in these groups must be renewed. Continuing to use the same people over and over again wears them down. Home-school-community groups must bring in new members so ideas remain fresh and enthusiasm remains constant.

Special attention should be given to these wonderful instruments of education; crayons and home-school-community relationships. Both provide opportunities to express themselves, both work together to form a captivating picture, and both groups add a breath of fresh air for education.