Flowers are Red
by Harry Chapin
The little boy went first day of school
He got some crayons and started to draw
He put colors all over the paper
For colors was what he saw
And the teacher said.. What you doin' young man
I'm paintin' flowers he said
She said... It's not the time for art young man
And anyway flowers are green and red
There's a time for everything young man
And a way it should be done
You've got to show concern for everyone else
For you're not the only one
And she said...
Flowers are red young man
Green leaves are green
There's no need to see flowers any other way
Than they way they always have been seen
But the little boy said...
There are so many colors in the rainbow
So many colors in the morning sun
So many colors in the flower and I see every one
Well the teacher said.. You're sassy
There's ways that things should be
And you'll paint flowers the way they are
So repeat after me.....
And she said...
Flowers are red young man
Green leaves are green
There's no need to see flowers any other way
Than they way they always have been seen
But the little boy said...
There are so many colors in the rainbow
So many colors in the morning sun
So many colors in the flower and I see every one
The teacher put him in a corner
She said.. It's for your own good..
And you won't come out 'til you get it right
And are responding like you should
Well finally he got lonely
Frightened thoughts filled his head
And he went up to the teacher
And this is what he said.. and he said
Flowers are red, green leaves are green
There's no need to see flowers any other way
Than the way they always have been seen
Time went by like it always does
And they moved to another town
And the little boy went to another school
And this is what he found
The teacher there was smilin'
She said...Painting should be fun
And there are so many colors in a flower
So let's use every one
But that little boy painted flowers
In neat rows of green and red
And when the teacher asked him why
This is what he said.. and he said
Flowers are red, green leaves are green
There's no need to see flowers any other way
Than the way they always have been seen.
Horses CAN be blue. They can. Why? Because he is six, and he has the most amazing imagination, and he has 24 crayons in his box. How DARE she try to stifle his creativity!?
by Harry Chapin
The little boy went first day of school
He got some crayons and started to draw
He put colors all over the paper
For colors was what he saw
And the teacher said.. What you doin' young man
I'm paintin' flowers he said
She said... It's not the time for art young man
And anyway flowers are green and red
There's a time for everything young man
And a way it should be done
You've got to show concern for everyone else
For you're not the only one
And she said...
Flowers are red young man
Green leaves are green
There's no need to see flowers any other way
Than they way they always have been seen
But the little boy said...
There are so many colors in the rainbow
So many colors in the morning sun
So many colors in the flower and I see every one
Well the teacher said.. You're sassy
There's ways that things should be
And you'll paint flowers the way they are
So repeat after me.....
And she said...
Flowers are red young man
Green leaves are green
There's no need to see flowers any other way
Than they way they always have been seen
But the little boy said...
There are so many colors in the rainbow
So many colors in the morning sun
So many colors in the flower and I see every one
The teacher put him in a corner
She said.. It's for your own good..
And you won't come out 'til you get it right
And are responding like you should
Well finally he got lonely
Frightened thoughts filled his head
And he went up to the teacher
And this is what he said.. and he said
Flowers are red, green leaves are green
There's no need to see flowers any other way
Than the way they always have been seen
Time went by like it always does
And they moved to another town
And the little boy went to another school
And this is what he found
The teacher there was smilin'
She said...Painting should be fun
And there are so many colors in a flower
So let's use every one
But that little boy painted flowers
In neat rows of green and red
And when the teacher asked him why
This is what he said.. and he said
Flowers are red, green leaves are green
There's no need to see flowers any other way
Than the way they always have been seen.
Horses CAN be blue. They can. Why? Because he is six, and he has the most amazing imagination, and he has 24 crayons in his box. How DARE she try to stifle his creativity!?
2 comments:
Dear friend,
That has always been one of my favorite songs. Even as a child. Alas, the teacher is not always in accord. Thousands of miles away, we too are not in love with our teacher! Sad that we have the same problems but glad you are my friend to understand. Apparently, Lebanon Ohio does not "service gifted children" until grade 3. In the meantime we are stuck in a library with reading materials that only go to second grade (and let's just say he read Harry Potter in a week this summer). His teacher gave me a blank look when I expressed concern over their inability to accurately define his reading level and as for math - "well, we'll look into that". Day two of school and I was already meeting with the principal who has yet to call me back. As I keep telling them, "I don't believe in home school. I believe that is a mistake and puts children at a social disadvantage. I enrich my child as much as possible at home but rely on the trained professionals to take him where he can really soar." And yet every obstacle leads me to believe that maybe I could do better myself. Of course, he will outsmart me in math any day now so then what!!!!!!!!! Tell the boy that our boy is particularly fond of ORANGE horses! And orange houses, cars, clouds, etc. Hold your head high and fight them until they cave. The squeaky wheel does eventually get greased. We have no more important job than to be the voice and advocate for our children. Love you! PS Who killed Bambi?!
What can I say. Thanks to you and your boy or reminding me that there are a few levels of normal out there.
It's been a few days and I've calmed down a bit, but not before looking into a few options within the school. We have a meeting with the teacher on Friday, and she knows that we are considering having him moved to a different classroom, so all I can do now is wait and continue to think calm thoughts.
Give your little ones some love from me. I adore you.
Oh, and Bambi was a suicide, hadn't you heard? :P
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