Lest the black sheep feel inferior to the more plentiful white sheep in Scotland, the words to the popular children's rhyme have been changed to Baa Baa Rainbow Sheep. Whew. That was a close call. Those black sheep might have rioted and torched barns if we didn't do something to make them feel less marginalized.

And as for the kids who are singing the little ditty, they shouldn't be marginalized either. So their formally split classes of 1a and 1b have been renamed, lest those in 1b feel second-best.

Bonnyrigg Primary School had called its classes 1a and 1b but some parents of children in 1b said it left the youngsters feeling second best.

The classes will now be known as 1ar and 1ap, incorporating teachers' surnames in the new titles.

One Midlothian parent dubbed the move "political correctness gone mad".

"These parents need not be so sensitive and should think whether it is not their actions which are highlighting this inferior idea surrounding class names.

"It all sounds a bit silly to me and is on a par with the situation which brought us the changed nursery rhyme name of Ba Ba Rainbow Sheep.

"I think these parents need to get a grip, it's a ridiculous request, which has left me flabbergasted."