My 4 year old granddaughter was excited about showing us the nursery rhyme book that she had been compiling at school.As she showed us several of the rhymes on Skype, I recited some of them for her.
Little Miss Muffet sat on the tuffet eating her curds and whey..
Humpty Dumpty sat on the wall, Humpty Dumpty had a great fall...
Twinkle Twinkle Little Star..
When I saw Three Blind Mice, I was going to sing,
"Three blind mice, three blind mice,
See how they run, see how they run,
They all ran after the farmer's wife,
Who cut off their tails with a carving knife,
Did you ever see such a thing in your life,
As three blind mice?"
Before I finished the first few words, Tif stopped me with, "Uhhhh...Mom? No, that's not what's written here. The words have been ummmm... altered." Then she read them to me.
"Three nice mice,
Three nice mice
See how nice they are
See how nice they are
They’re always polite
When they nibble their cheese
They cover their noses
Whenever they sneeze
Ah, Ah, Ah, Chooo!
Three nice mice"
I must say, this new teacher adapted version is a lot more PG and less bloodthirsty. When you think about some of our English/American fairy tales and nursery rhymes, they're pretty darn violent. I can see why KC's pre-school teacher wanted to edit the original even though the words sounded a little strange to me. I guess I didn't pay much attention to the words when I was a child.
I'm sorry to hear that KC's teacher altered the words; like you I was never bothered by the original words or given bad dreams or traumatised for life! Children love bloodthirsty stories and nursery rhymes as long as the goodies win and the baddies get their come-uppance and it's all clearly just a story. I really don't believe that they're harmed by it, or better for being denied it. I often used to change words as an alternative, to help with learning tables for instance, but never suggested they were the only words.
ReplyDeleteIt's okay to change the words so long as the originals remain. This version isn't nearly so easy to sing!!
ReplyDeleteKay that's so interesting, I never really thought about Three Blind Mice being violent! KC's teacher did such a good job changing the words.
ReplyDeleteNever knew that the rhyme has been altered, it was one of my favourites along with Humpty Dumpty... And you are right they have made it less bloodthirsty but that is good, is it not?
ReplyDeleteHave a nice day:-)
I've heard a couple of different altered versions of "Three Blind Mice". I guess it is okay to have a less violent version, but the original is the one I will always remember.
ReplyDeletevery creative and modern...I think it's a good idea!
ReplyDeleteHow cute and what a clever teacher! I assume she was the one who composed the rhyme? lol.
ReplyDeleteInteresting. It's also amazing how many bloody hymns we still sing in church without noticing the words.
ReplyDeleteMy daughter and I were just laughing about Goldilocks and the three bears. I have a version on my iPhone that Leeya loves to go to and listen to the story being read. She knows all the characters and pretty much the story by now. Her mother was saying that it's the story of a petty criminal who breaks in, steals, and vandalizes property. But we all still love the story.
ReplyDeleteOh, and forgot to mention, my daughter, the vegan, changes the piggie story:
ReplyDeleteThis little piggy went to the market
This little piggy stayed home
This little piggy had roast TOFU...
Yes, some of those nursery rhymes were indeed rather grim as most were based on actual history. For instance, Humpty Dumpty refers to an English cannon that they built, but could never get to actually fire. "Mary, Mary" refers to Mary Queen of Scots and is actually quite gruesome.
ReplyDeleteI never thought about the Three Blind Mice being violent or bloodthirsty, but so many of these fairy tales were based on violent happenings in history. I simply thought of them as a portrayal of history for children. My kids loved the nursery rhymes and never seemed frightened or disturbed when we read them. But whatever works, things are different now and some teachers and some parents are concerned, so I feel they do what they feel is best.
ReplyDeleteInteresting post as always, Kay! Hope your weekend is going well!
Sylvia
I never thought about the nursery rhymes I learned as a child and then taught to my children as violent, until I read an article on nursery rhymes. I think KC's teacher did a great job with changes to the rhyme.
ReplyDeleteHa! Ha! That cracks me up!
ReplyDeleteNursery Rhymes are a part of our cultural history. Now the question is, were they a valuable part and does it matter if they were changed? The part of me that loves nursery rhymes is appalled, but another part of me realizes that times have changed, and that is a part of our history, too.
ReplyDeleteIs this an only in America thing?
ReplyDeleteDina: Gosh! I don't know. I suspect teachers everywhere might be inclined to modify things (a little) here and there to make it more appropriate to their class.
ReplyDeleteThis is quite interesting. Much of the history behind the nursery rhymes is lost with the changes as KathyA said, but they are less violent this way.
ReplyDeleteI was also fascinated to see that you were able to post such a nice photo that was taken from Skype.
Kay, you always amuse!!
ReplyDeleteThanks for being my pal
Aloha to you and your family
from town-side!
Comfort Spiral
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When I was 50-years old, someone explained the gruesomeness embedded in nursery rhymes. Never gave it much though before then. I digress on changing the words of traditional rhymes. Why they don't just compose new nursery rhymes instead? Off topic, but remember Aesop's the Tortoise and the Hare. Well, in the The Hare and the Hedgehog, Grimm's version, didn't the hedgehog blatantly cheap, LOL.
ReplyDeleteI like this version. I remember the original well and I always felt bad for the mice.
ReplyDeleteCute picture too!