Platt Discovery Cottage

All summed up by Harry

January 16th, 2009

Chapin, that is! 

As much as I hate to admit it, my father and I have a lot in common.  We wont get into that now, however when I was very young and living across the country from him, he made me a tape of some of his favourite music.  Several of the songs stuck with me becoming my favourites, one being particularly presient.

‘Flowers Are Red’ is such an anthem for homeschooling.  It’s about a little boy who goes to school and is chastised for colouring when and how he wishes.  He’s told by his crabby teacher:

“Flowers are red young man, and green leaves are green.  There’s no need to see flowers any other way than the way they always have been seen.”

‘And the little boy said’:

‘There are so many colours in the rainbow.  So many colours in the morning sun.  There are so many colours in the flowers and I see every one.’

He goes on to be emotionally beaten into submission by the rigid system. 

He eventually moves and starts a different school where the teacher is the complete opposite of what’s he’s known and he’s free to paint as he wishes.  Unfortunately, it’s too late as he’s been indoctrinated.  He repeats to his new teacher what his old teacher told him about the assigned colours.

Even since I can remember this song makes me so sad, and even teary.  I now know why.  It’s so easy to crush a small child’s spirit. 

I’ve made “Flowers are red” the Platt Discovery Cottage anthem.  It’s message is one of the main reasons I homeschool. 

Enjoying the very colourful journey,  Amanda

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