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Article Baa Baa What Sheep?

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An article published by news.com.au today has addressed an issue happening in childcare centers around the nation that seems to be baffling some parents and members of the community…

Many centers around Australia have started replacing words within songs that could potentially be deemed to be offensive. Like the work ‘black’ in the song ‘Baa baa black sheep’.

News.com.au reports:

Staff at childcare centres in the south-eastern suburbs told the Herald Sun the lyric was being changed because of concerns over the racial connotations of “black”, and to reflect a multicultural community.

Kindergarten teachers have told the Herald Sun a centre in Melbourne’s east had also considered changing the line “one for the little boy who lives down the lane” in case it could be deemed sexist.

But really, is this just political correctness gone crazy?

At my daughters pre-school they sing ‘Baa baa rainbow sheep’ and whenever I have tried to sing this song to her at home with the original lyrics (‘baa baa black sheep’) I am quickly corrected by my 3 year old, they have also added to the song so now when we sing it it goes like this

Baa baa rainbow 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,

and one for the little girl who lives down the lane

It is quite confusing as why would they have three bags of wool but four people to give it to?

So I’ve made my own amendments to the song, since it isn’t in it’s original form anymore anyway I throw in different animals and replace names… this is one of my favourite renditions and my three year old thinks I am hilarious (someone has to!):

Ooh ooh silly monkey, have you any bananas?

Yes fish, yes fish, three trees full

One for Mummy and one for Daddy and one for the little monkey who is a silly banana

I know, I know, seeing it in written form isn’t as humorous and it doesn’t really make much sense – but neither does a rainbow sheep, has anyone ever seen one of those?

Has your child’s pre-school changed lyrics in any songs? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below.

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Comments

  • I grew up in a time when we watched the Black and White Minstrels and played with gollies and black coloured dolls and thought nothing of it. Noddy and Big Ears slept in the same bed and the thought never even passed through our mind that they might be ‘gay’. Bill and Ben, the Flowerpot Men shared a friend called Weed. I’m sure there were other things, too. Personally, I think Political Correctness has gone way, way, WAY too far. If you explain things to your kids, they do understand. They’re not stupid. I doubt whether they are going to throw their doll across the room because it’s a ‘black’ doll and they don’t want to play with it because they are racist, but just because that’s what kids do when they’re in a cranky mood. It could just as easily have been the ‘white’ doll. What are they going to do when they try to describe something to the kids about the animals they talk about e.g. no more black bear, black panther, black swan, black cat. Are they all going to be rainbow coloured now?

    Reply

  • From Nepal
    Baa baa rainbow sheep, have you any wool?
    Yes mam, yes sir, three bags full
    One for the master and one for the dame,
    and one for the little kid who lives near the lane

    Reply

  • I think it is over the top. Some things are BLACK and a sheep is one of them. Is it going to offend the sheep???? My car is black!!!
    just like when I was growing up and used the word Bloody to describe a battle…..my friends were horrified..cause I didn’t swear…….well, usually a battle is bloody.
    If it was about a “black” person, yes that would be different. but a black object???
    and people are seen as male or female…..its all going too far.

    Reply

  • How ridiculous. That the problem with society today. Everyone is ready to get offended at the drop of a hat. Who was the bright spark who introduced Political Correctness anyway. What are they teaching our children. These are Nursery Rhymes and are ditty’s which I sang to and with my children when they were young. None of this “Rainbow Sheep” rubbish. That only confuses them more. Lying to your children is not the answer and if people are going to get offended or think it is racist because a black sheep is exactly that, then they need to get a life and stop being ridiculous. So if we replaced the black with ‘white sheep’ are all the caucasian people (or can I say white, cause that’s what I am) going to get up in arms about that or is that okay to say? Let’s not confuse our kids with politics and just treat them all the same whatever colour they are. There is so much hatred and division in this world of hours and not enough tolerance, kindness, love and understanding. “LET’S STOP THE ROT”

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  • The whole world has gone mad with political correctness! As a person of a very fair skin type I often find myself on the end of remarks like ‘chalky white skin’ etc. I don’t get offended, but you could quite easily say that by rights if we are going on this political correctness tangent I would be entitled to. I wonder if the rainbow sheep is offensive towards gay people, being that the rainbow flag has a strong link within the gay community? Society is teaching children to question every little detail, it’s not really fair and takes the joy out of just simply being a little boy or girl learning time honoured nursery rhymes. I for one have had enough of stuffy political correctness.

    • Hear, Hear. I agree wholeheartedly.

      • I for one am loving this article, topic and discussion. I was beginning to think I was the odd one out thinking how way too far political correctness has gone. People can’t look side ways at each other for fear of ramifications. I see it in the work place, where in particular you have to watch every single thing you say and actually really analyse what you say before you say it for fear of offending this person or that person or groups of people etc. What has happened to freedom of speech in Australia? Oh that’s right there isn’t any because you can get sued for that. I took a recent trip to Melbourne and I know this is slightly off topic, but there was a pop up stand clearly selling and renting high end real estate. There was not one word of English in the advertisement. I know people will can me for saying this but isn’t that a bit biased and excluding a portion of the population. I wanted to actually post the photo I took but guess what – I was too afraid somebody would sue me and brand me a racist and a redneck. I believe in embracing culture and the gorgeous aspects that come with it but please if we are going to play fair, let’s all stick to the same rules.

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  • For heavens sake this is just a nursery rhyme, and Oh yes I work at a farm, I milk a black and white cow a Friesian, I have white sheep merinos, I have black faced suffolks and oh yes I have black/brown and white dorpers sometimes the lambs are more black then white just like the photo, but you know what I dont have a RAINBOW ONE, this is political madness what are we teaching our children, like the UK in the 80’s and Mary Whitehouse who managed to get a children show banned cos the puppets were all put in the same basket, (Andy Pandy, Teddy and Looby Lou) this world is insane. No wonder children are so screwed up they get so confused, do gooders go away and concentrate on more important matters – little children are going to believe in rainbow sheep would you like me to dye them maybe Santa and the Easter Bunny are next who knows – by the way when you find a rainbow sheep let me know I would like one for the flocks.

    • LOL. Well said and truth. I’ll keep a look out for a Rainbow Sheep for your flock. 🙂

    Reply

  • I have heard of rainbow sheep and thought How ridiculous.
    Never seen one of those yet.
    Imagine the poor city kids growing up and then finding out that sheep are only black white or brown.
    Sing the song as is or just don’t sing it.
    Stupid politically correct BS

    Reply

  • political correctness gone mad! No such thing as a rainbow sheep! As children our black kelpie was called N…..! Husband’s childhood black dog was called B……! The names suited them and their colouring! There were no evil connotations in the names! Does that mean we should do away with references to white sheep???? People should not be so sensitive!

    • Do you mean Nigger and Blackie. What’s wrong with that. Why is everyone so scared to say those words…I don’t call people those names though because I never set out to offend people, and people shouldn’t be called names either, but the people who set their minds on this rubbish and feed our children this trip are unbelievably ridiculous. Let’s get on with each other and get over it. Years ago my aged neighbour had a black dog and it was called nigger…but then when all this rot started he changed its name to digger. Talk about confuse the dog cause it sure as heck is confusing to our children and a lot of adults as well. Children all grow up and will say how stupid were those adults who taught us to sing those words. I wonder what these politically correct people are trying to achieve beside not trying to offend everyone. Beats me.

    Reply

  • Our childcare did this and it’s beyond ridiculous even the multi cultural parents are agreeing what’s going on !

    • Childcare is an evil tool to bring division to families. I never placed my children in care, I had them and I raised them and lived within our means. Having children means going without and making sacrifices and sending them off to those places allows strangers to teach our children a different set of values. They are too precious to just hand over to others. There are too many protocols and policies which alone are confusing not just to children but to adults alike. We are better off teaching them to get on with each other with love and respect for each other instead of worrying about colours changing a bunch of animals.

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  • No wonder the world is getting all out of kilter. Just ridiculous.

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  • Oh my! The world is one weird place.How is this even a problem. COME ON.

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  • It’s such a joke! The colour of the sheep has nothing to do with race or ethnicity — it’s a freaking sheep!!!!!

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  • No wonder the world is in the state it is, this is ridiculous. Why aren’t people working on real problems that exist now instead of making problems for the future generations. There are boys and girls, there are black sheep and white sheep, there are all sorts differences in the world. We cannot and should not try to paint them out or ignore them. All of this PC is confusing and serves no good purpose in my opinion.

    Reply

  • I think it’s silly, If the song was originally about a white or brown sheep would they be trying to change it?

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  • My kids pre school haven’t changed the words as far as I know.. I think it’s all a but silly..

    Reply

  • We have not any change of lyrics as far as I know. I am not sure that they sang Baa Baa Black Sheep at the kinder. Very interesting article.

    Reply

  • I think it’s stupid trying to change a song that we were all bought up on. The generation that started the song taught it those who now wanna change it. Y can’t thing be left as they were. Stop changing what was and fix what is. It is a black sheep a black sheep is a black sheep. Do we really wanna start confusing th kids anymore than they need.

    Reply
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