I’m trying to determine the origin of the phrase “little red schoolhouse”. Obviously, it most likely comes from the fact that one-room schoolhouses were painted red. My question is more along the lines of “WHY were they painted red?” Is this a uniquely American thing?
Probably for the same reason that barns were painted red.
Probably for the same reasons barns were painted red. One theory being that red paint was cheap, and easy to manufacture:
I’m going to guess that rural schoolhouses tended to get painted in the same way.
Well, that’s two of us that think so - we even dug up the same link to simulpost.
If you need further confirmation, the explanation of cheap, red paint is also the explanation given at the Old Sturbridge Village interactive museum (although they do not mention it on their web site).
And all those barns, bridges and schoolhouses are out in the country nestled amongst the greenery, and, like, red and green just kinda, like, ya’ know, go together, dontcha think?
[sub]Ouch! Ouch!! Quit throwing things![/sub]