Students using References vs. Imagination
I am finishing up my second year as an Elementary art teacher, and one thing that I have started to notice is that my older 4th-5th grade students are consistently asking for photos to be printed as references.
For some projects in the past, I would allow students to print off photos to use for things such as collages, or if they needed a very specific reference (such as the design of their favorite character for a drawing). However, this has slowly stemmed off into students requesting a reference photo for the most simplest of things, such as a strawberry or a photo of a dog.
I feel like this has been limiting their creativity, as they have become reliant on having an image in front of them, rather than using their imagination to work.
When I noticed this, I started to refuse to print photos (Except for the previous mentioned collage projects and super-specific references needed), but it is often met with consistent complaints, and I have even had students completely give up and out-right refuse to participate without a printed photo.
Am I in the wrong here? This has been a tough year overall with major district changes and student grouping, so imposter syndrome has been kicking in rough.