Posted on 03/08/2006 8:53:31 AM PST by presidio9
Pre-school children attending two nurseries in Oxfordshire are being taught a new version of Baa Baa Black Sheep - Baa Baa Rainbow Sheep. Critics say altering the words of the traditional nursery rhyme is an example of political correctness gone too far.
But the charity running the nurseries, Parents and Children Together (Pact), said the move was educational, not motivated by racial concerns.
Pact said children were encouraged to use a wide range of words in songs.
Baa, baa, black sheep, Have you any wool? Yes sir, yes sir, Three bags full; One for the master, And one for the dame, And one for the little boy Who lives down the lane
Baa Baa Black Sheep
"Pact has established that children sing a variety of descriptive words in the nursery rhyme to turn the song into an action rhyme," the charity said in a statement.
"They sing happy, sad, bouncing, hopping, pink, blue, black and white sheep etc and they also exchange boy and girl at the end of the rhyme.
"This encourages the children to extend their vocabulary and use up some energy."
While the words have been altered at two Oxfordshire nurseries - the Abingdon Family Centre and the Sure Start Centre in Sutton Courtenay - other nurseries in the area have not taken such steps.
"We sing Baa Baa Black Sheep and Baa Baa White Sheep because that's reality, that's what the children see in the fields and it encourages them to look around them," said Jill Edge, from the Sunshine Centre in Banbury, north Oxfordshire.
"Realistically, they are not going to see rainbow sheep in the fields. There are much better ways of addressing these issues."
In 2000, a warning that the nursery rhyme Baa Baa black sheep should not be taught in schools because it was "racially offensive" was scrapped.
The guidelines by education chiefs at Birmingham City Council were dropped after black parents condemned the advice as ridiculous.
Don't know but there is a group that publicly celebrates the 9-11 attacks every year.
""Realistically, they are not going to see rainbow sheep in the fields. There are much better ways of addressing these issues.""
Well, d-uh. Next, we'll hear of some sickoid 10-yr-old dying a sheep and having it perish from the dye. This is great, they have no concept of when to leave well enough alone! /:o(
Stay away from the pink sheep.
"Rainbow sheep". Would it be wrong to call them colored? Shouldn't PETA be opposed to this in case it starts a trend of dyed wool on living sheep?
"Liberalism is a Mental Disorder"
Bump, my thoughts exactly. Copycat mentality (certainly something to consider if the kids are going to pick up some negative message about things that are black or about male dominance from the rhyme).
Earth to liberals: THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS RAINBOW SHEEP!
"We sing Baa Baa Black Sheep and Baa Baa White Sheep because that's reality, that's what the children see in the fields and it encourages them to look around them," said Jill Edge, from the Sunshine Centre in Banbury, north Oxfordshire.
Keep talking, Jill, but I doubt they ever really listen.
I think this reveals a simple truth: Liberals are mad at God for making everyting as He did. They think they could have done it better themselves.
Yeah. They're called "Democrats."
"a warning that the nursery rhyme Baa Baa black sheep should not be taught in schools because it was "racially offensive""
But Snow White was given a pass. Hmm.
How silly. I will still say baa baa black sheep to my grandson. We are going to far with this stuff. If it was good enough when I was a child and good enough for my children then leave it alone!
Yes! "There's something different about ewe!" is not something we need to be bringing up lest there be doctor-playing in the cloakroom! ;o)
What a joke. Morons.
Don't forget the mention of the word "Master" which has potential slavery connotations... and might I add the word "boy" ?
There are no negative connotations in this rhyme, even if you can stretch the language to the point of bursting.
This is a dark day.
(whoops, am I allowed to say that? )
Can we accuse these moonbats of being niggardly with their use of the English language?
Has Uncle Jessie and his coalition been informed of the addition to their ranks?
The ignorant "teaching" what they don't understand, so changing it.
Maybe if they learned the meaning and history behind it, they could then actually educate the kids.
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