Gluesticks

Why do teachers prefer white glue sticks?

My kids' school supply lists state they both need WHITE glue sticks only and our Wal-Mart only sells the disappearing purple kind, two in a pack for $.25. Although this is a great deal, and I'm sure other parents will simply buy these ones, I would like my children to have the required items. Just curious if anyone out there can tell me why teachers dislike the disappearing purple ones, why are they so particular? Thanks!

Public Comments

1. Maybe they just don't know that the purple fades? Sometimes the purple glue, despite the fact that it turns to clear, shows through thin white paper. I don't know, maybe the teacher's just picky? I would get the purple ones, anyway. There's really no difference.
2. They are white glue sticks on the inside. The teacher's just racist.
3. beacuase if you use that elmers glue bottle thing its gonna make a mess so the elmers glue stick is better duhhh
4. i used the disappearing purple ones once. The ones I got weren't any good, but that may have just been a bad brand. They were sticky and hard to apply to paper. and i don't think they changed color. I don't know if all of them are like that, but i've never had a problem with white glue sticks before, so i would just buy those if i were you. :)
5. I would think it's because the colored sticks leave a colored residue and it's not really pleasant to look at once a project is finished. The disappearing purple sticks work well because I've tried it on white construction paper, but I wouldn't be surprised if the teachers still insist on you getting white glue sticks since they're so particular. Try another store or order the white ones online.
6. The purple kind bleeds through & is messier
7. I really don't know. I am a teacher myself and I am just happy that my students have a pencil. I would never be particular about what kind of glue stick they bought. The best answer I can come up with is that when kids draw or paint or write something a lot of the time the teacher will paste the work on construction paper and the white will make it look the best for hanging in the hallway. Something else might be that the disappearing purple ones might be stickier and if they are younger children, if you can prevent the sticky mess then its a good thing..
8. Being a teacher, I can tell you that I would never turn away school supplies given by parents. Even if they weren't exactly what I asked for I guarantee that I would find a way to use them. My guess is that they are going to be doing a specific project for which the white glue works better. Either that or they don't want kids to fight over the color of the glue. I have had little girls who insist that they have the purple glue or the blue pair of scissors. That kind of thing is no fun but it's just a part of teaching :)
9. In my experience, the white glue sticks work better -- they apply faster and stick better. I have had problems with the purple sticks getting on my clothes and not coming out. Can't speak for anyone else, though.
10. My experience has been that the white glue sticks (preferably Elmer's and Staples) are more effective and last longer. The disappearing purple glue sticks have not worked as well as the others. I have also found that the purple bleeds through also, like Elizabet. . . stated.
11. I am an art teacher and the white glue sticks stick better. The purple ones are not as good but are generally cheaper. It maybe something in that disappearing ink that makes them not as sticky. Even though I prefer the white I usually purchase the purple because they are so much cheaper in large quantities. Personaly I wouldnt care if they were white, purple, green or orange but this teacher may be a glue stick Nazi. so just get the white kind. Or maybe you can contact her and ask.