A story based on the Three Little Pigs fairy tale has been turned down by a government agency's awards panel as the subject matter could offend Muslims.
The digital book, re-telling the classic story, was rejected by judges who warned that "the use of pigs raises cultural issues".
Becta, the government's educational technology agency, is a leading partner in the annual Bett Award for schools.
The judges also attacked Three Little Cowboy Builders for offending builders.
The book's creative director, Anne Curtis, said the idea that including pigs in a story could be interpreted as racism was "like a slap in the face".
'Cultural issues'
The CD-Rom digital version of the traditional story of the three little pigs, called Three Little Cowboy Builders, is aimed at primary school children.
But judges at this year's Bett Award said that they had "concerns about the Asian community and the use of pigs raises cultural issues".
The Three Little Cowboy Builders has already been a prize winner at the recent Education Resource Award - but its Newcastle-based publishers, Shoo-fly, were turned down by the Bett Award panel.
The feedback from the judges explaining why they had rejected the CD-Rom highlighted that they "could not recommend this product to the Muslim community".
They also warned that the story might "alienate parts of the workforce (building trade)".
The judges criticised the stereotyping in the story of the unfortunate pigs: "Is it true that all builders are cowboys, builders get their work blown down, and builders are like pigs?"
Animal Farm?
Ms Curtis said that rather than preventing the spread of racism, such an attitude was likely to inflame ill-feeling. As another example, she says would that mean that secondary schools could not teach Animal Farm because it features pigs?
Her company is committed to an ethical approach to business and its products promote a message of mutual respect, she says - and banning such traditional stories will "close minds rather than open them".
Becta, the government funded agency responsible for technology in schools and colleges, says that it is standing by the judges' verdict.
"Becta with its partners is responsible for the judging criteria against which the 70 independent judges, mostly practising teachers, comment. All the partners stick by the judging criteria," said a Becta spokesman.
The reason that this product was not shortlisted was because "it failed to reach the required standard across a number of criteria", said the spokesman.
Becta runs the awards with the Besa trade association and show organisers, Emap Education.
Merlin John, author of an educational technology website which highlighted the story, warns that such rulings can undermine the credibility of the awards.
"When benchmarks are undermined by pedestrian and pedantic tick lists, and by inflexible, unhelpful processes, it can tarnish the achievements of even the most worthy winners.
"It's time for a rethink, and for Becta to listen to the criticisms that have been ignored for a number of years," said Mr John.
ISARMA: Daikaiju Coordinator: Just Add Radiation Justice League- Molly Hayes: Respect Hats or Freakin' Else! Browncoat Supernatural Taisen - "[This Story] is essentially "Wouldn't it be awesome if this happened?" Followed by explosions."
Reviewing movies is a lot like Paleontology: The Evidence is there...but no one seems to agree upon it.
"God! Are you so bored that you enjoy seeing us humans suffer?! Why can't you let this poor man live happily with his son! What kind of God are you, crushing us like ants?!" - Kyoami, Ran
Cinderella and the Seven Vertically Challenged Handi-capable People
"DO YOU WORSHIP HOMOSEXUALS?" - Curtis Saxton (source) shroom is a lovely boy and i wont hear a bad word against him - LUSY-CHAN! Shit! Man, I didn't think of that! It took Shroom to properly interpret the screams of dying people - PeZook Shroom, I read out the stuff you write about us. You are an endless supply of morale down here. :p - an OWS street medic Pink Sugar Heart Attack!
could not recommend this product to the Muslim community".
How many Muslims actually complained about pigs building houses?
Is it true that all builders are cowboys, builders get their work blown down, and builders are like pigs?"
The shear childishness of this made me look for a long time for an onion article.
"Becta with its partners is responsible for the judging criteria against which the 70 independent judges, mostly practising teachers, comment. All the partners stick by the judging criteria," said a Becta spokesman.
Then Becta should be disbanded and all the judges fired for being total tits.
I'm pissed off at this, I'm going to write an angry letter(TM) to the education secretary. I want these sods sacked and publicly reviled for their racism and stupidity.
Get busy living or get busy dying... unless there’s cake.
In case you didn't notice, they're not censoring it. They're just deciding not to give it an AWARD. Big fucking deal.
In case you didn't notice, I didn't say they were censoring it. They're overreacting and pandering to religious sensitivities that as far as I can see, don't exist.
Darth Wong wrote:In case you didn't notice, they're not censoring it. They're just deciding not to give it an AWARD. Big fucking deal.
Yes, for all the wrong reasons. So what if they aren't banning it, they're still acting like complete idiots.
'Ai! ai!' wailed Legolas. 'A Balrog! A Balrog is come!'
Gimli stared with wide eyes. 'Durin's Bane!' he cried, and letting his axe fall he covered his face.
'A Balrog,' muttered Gandalf. 'Now I understand.' He faltered and leaned heavily on his staff. 'What an evil fortune! And I am already weary.'
- J.R.R Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring
More likely the news article is blowing shit out of proportion. You guys need to read between the lines.
The reason that this product was not shortlisted was because "it failed to reach the required standard across a number of criteria", said the spokesman.
Translation: the thing is a piece of unoriginal shit, and the judges need a solid reason to kill it. Art being subjective, they needed to make up a reason so they do it. The Muslim thing was one reason out of tons of reasons but the CD-Rom's makers act like the pigs was the only reason.
In case you didn't notice, they're not censoring it. They're just deciding not to give it an AWARD. Big fucking deal.
In case you didn't notice, I didn't say they were censoring it. They're overreacting and pandering to religious sensitivities that as far as I can see, don't exist.
"Overreacting" by not giving it an AWARD? You're full of shit. When people give out awards, they look for any reason to differentiate the best specimens for the honour.
"It's not evil for God to do it. Or for someone to do it at God's command."- Jonathan Boyd on baby-killing
"you guys are fascinated with the use of those "rules of logic" to the extent that you don't really want to discussus anything."- GC
"I do not believe Russian Roulette is a stupid act" - Embracer of Darkness
"Viagra commercials appear to save lives" - tharkûn on US health care.
In case you didn't notice, they're not censoring it. They're just deciding not to give it an AWARD. Big fucking deal.
In case you didn't notice, I didn't say they were censoring it. They're overreacting and pandering to religious sensitivities that as far as I can see, don't exist.
"Overreacting" by not giving it an AWARD? You're full of shit. When people give out awards, they look for any reason to differentiate the best specimens for the honour.
I don't think anyone cares if it is getting an award or not. Why it is an issue is the reason it that it is disqualified for an award.
A story based on the Three Little Pigs fairy tale has been turned down by a government agency's awards panel as the subject matter could offend Muslims.
hongi wrote:In case you didn't notice, I didn't say they were censoring it. They're overreacting and pandering to religious sensitivities that as far as I can see, don't exist.
"Overreacting" by not giving it an AWARD? You're full of shit. When people give out awards, they look for any reason to differentiate the best specimens for the honour.
I don't think anyone cares if it is getting an award or not. Why it is an issue is the reason it that it is disqualified for an award.
Yeah, sure. People always get up in arms whenever they think that the judging panel for some obscure award was not completely fair, right? That's bullshit and you know it. If this book were disqualified for any other reason, this would never make the news even if the reason sounded bogus.
There's one reason why this is news: because it is perceived to be about Muslims instead of some other group, like women. So the usual suspects can rant about how political correctness is ruining society and we're all shackled by multiculturalism. Because we've tended to give demerit points when judging authors who offend all kinds of groups for decades, but when we do that with those goddamned Muslims, then we've gone too far.
"It's not evil for God to do it. Or for someone to do it at God's command."- Jonathan Boyd on baby-killing
"you guys are fascinated with the use of those "rules of logic" to the extent that you don't really want to discussus anything."- GC
"I do not believe Russian Roulette is a stupid act" - Embracer of Darkness
"Viagra commercials appear to save lives" - tharkûn on US health care.
"
- PeZook
What a bunch of fucking wankers. Not the board; YOU people.
