This might soon be a whole lot more common. So what do teachers do with the rhyme instead? “We try to introduce a variety of sheep,” says Celine Pieterse, co-ordinator of Malvern East’s Central Park Child Care. In other words, children are encouraged to pick any coloured sheep they like. Whether it be pink, blue or any other colour in the rainbow. Think this is gone mad?
Well so did lots of, with one mother telling The Herald Sun, “What ignorance. The rhyme has nothing to do with race.” But as far as history goes, Baa, Baa, Black Sheep isn’t the only kids’ rhyme that’s come under fire for being racist. Check out these other classics: 1. Eenie, Meenie, Miney, Moe. The words go like this: 'Eeny, meeny, miny, moe,/Catch a nigger by the toe./If he hollers, let him go,/Eeny, meeny, miny, moe.'
Well at least, that’s the original, 'nigger' was later replaced by tiger. The original character in this rhyme was replaced with a tiger. Bowl of Cherries/Pick a Bale of Cotton. The words go like this: 'Gonna jump down, turn around, pick a bale of cotton. Gotta jump down, turn around, Oh, Lordie, pick a bale a day.' The song is known to make a joke of conditions for American slaves. Tie Me Kangaroo Down Sport.
Written by, you probably sung this one at school. But do you remember this verse? 'Let me Abos go loose, Lou/Let me Abos go loose/They’re of no further use, Lou/So let me Abos go loose.' Rolf later apologised for the lyrics, which shamed Aboriginal people for their misfortune in Australia.
The original cover art for Tie Me Kangaroo Down Sport.