School teaches pupils 'Baa, baa white sheep'

Ananova ^ | November 12, 2002

[Sweet_Sunflower29]

A father has claimed a school has taken political correctness too far after his daughter came home singing "Baa, baa, white sheep".

Gary Stone, 41, from Peterborough, Cambridgeshire said four-year-old Michelle said she had been taught it instead of the more well-known "Baa, Baa, black sheep."

But Paston Ridings Primary School in the town said alternative words to nursery rhymes are taught to broaden pupil's language skills, not for politically correct reasons.

Headteacher Terry Snitch, said: "Like many other school we use the original as well as the alternative versions of traditional rhymes.

"In the example of baa, baa, black sheep - alternative words can include white, noisy, happy or sad.

"The rest of the nursery rhyme is also adapted to encourage creativity and imagination."

The school said no complaints have been received.

[Seruzawa]

So, calling someone 'black' is an insult?

No one is more racist or looks down on blacks more than a PC liberal.

[TXBubba]

IF they are also singing the rhyme with the other words - noisy etc. then I don't see the big deal. I think the Dad may be looking for PC where it doesn't exist. Now, if they never use different colors such as black etc. then there could be some PC problem. Personally, as a conservative mother of a preschooler I think the Dad is blowing this way out of proportion.

[Free_at_last_-2001]

In the example of baa, baa, black sheep - alternative words can include white, noisy, happy or sad. and gay!

How bout "Three visually impaired rodents"!

[E Rocc]

But Paston Ridings Primary School in the town said alternative words to nursery rhymes are taught to broaden pupil's language skills

Wasn't that Dice Clay's rationale?

-Eric

[mhking]

Black conservative ping

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Extra warning: this is a high-volume ping list.

[Vidalia]

Pappy Boyington is turning in his grave...

[WilliamWallace1999]

NO, NO, NO, it's visually differently-abled rodents. Get with the PC, dude.

[WSGilcrest]

...said alternative words to nursery rhymes are taught to broaden pupil's language skills

MY A$$!

[realpatriot71]

Aren't most sheep white?

[SouthernFreebird]

I'm ok with this as long as Rudolph don't come home with a pink nose........

[trebb]

Hey - that means they can rewrite the Bible, War and Peace, and any other work that they want because it gives the brainwashing victims (I mean students) different words to look at...

[TomServo]

The rest of the nursery rhyme is also adapted to encourage creativity and imagination."

Well how about, "Baa-Baa-Rap-Sheet"?

[stanz]

Just when I think that political correctness has gone as far as it could, along comes a story like this which blows my mind. Baa baa white sheep.........unbelievable.

[TXBubba]

My gosh, you almost gave me a heart attack! You added the "gay" to the list and I thought it was in the original article. Bad!

They have PC'ed some old nursery rhymes like the Blind Mice. I think they have taken out the butcher knife scene. And I'm not sure Little Bunny Foo Foo gets bopped on the head anymore. And I KNOW they never kill the old red rooster in "She'll Be Coming Around the Mountain".

[sweetliberty]

[Stefan Stackhouse]

"There was an old woman, who lived in a shoe.
She had so many children, she didn't know what to do.
So she went on AFDC."

[Mr. Bird]

The problem with changing these sorts of things is that it creates cultural illiterates.

Language is created for communication, and we teach parts of speech, sentence structure, word definitions, etc. so that we can effectively communicate with each other with minimal confusion. In the grand scheme of things, the difference between "presently" and "currently" seems trivial, yet if you are dealing with life-and-death issues, the wrong usage could be fatal.

Likewise, we all share common learning experiences which allow us to communicate within the same context. The words "black sheep" have a definitive connotation that helps us communicate. If you eliminate, or alter, these common phrases, communication ends up breaking down.

Sometimes it seems as if the very foundation of our society is being carelessly eroded by the imbecilic waves of PC compassion....

[demosthenes the elder]

indeed.

[anniegetyourgun]

Agriculturally speaking, there are many, many breeds of sheep - all range of colors. I don't know that it would be safe to say that 50% plus one (a majority) are white.