Last Updated: Wednesday, 23 January 2008, 13:49 GMT

 

Three Little Pigs 'too offensive'

By Sean Coughlan

BBC News, education

 

A story based on the Three Little Pigs has been turned down from a government agency's annual awards because the subject matter could offend Muslims.

The digital book, re-telling the classic fairy tale, 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 schools award.

 

The judges also attacked Three Little Cowboy Builders for offending builders.

 

The book's creative director, Anne Curtis, said that 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, run the government's technology agency.

 

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.

 

Do you agree with the judges of this Government agency that Three Little Pigs is offensive to Muslims or is this another example of political correctness gone mad?

I read this on BBC news earlier, i'm bloody outraged.

Yes, i'm all for ensuring muslims arent racially attacked, but this is nothing but yet another look at Political correctness gone mad. I just cant believe it :angry:

Dont mean to be racist but if we were in their country, we wouldnt have any laws to prevent us from being racially attacked, let alone this pathetic.

Edited January 23, 200817 yr by JamesP

What rubbish!!!

 

I'd like too get a point of view from any muslims. I want to know what they really think of about the three little pigs!

Is this ment to be a p***-take.

 

IMO this is just driving more people to be Racist. Non-Muslims are being made to suffer by this political correctness. It's pathetic.

I agree - people will blame people of the Islamic faith for this being banned, when it actually hasn't bothered them at all! It's all just potential outrage when, actually, GUESS WHAT! NO-ONE GIVES A $h!t!!

 

I'm so over this country to be honest because of this trivial cautious $h!t - I can't wait to move.

Edited January 23, 200817 yr by Andrewy

im appalled that some big fat cat is sitting on his arse making judgements over such a trivial matter.

 

good points already been made

 

"I'd like too get a point of view from any muslims. I want to know what they really think of about the three little pigs! "

 

and

 

" agree - people will blame people of the Islamic faith for this being banned, when it actually hasn't bothered them at all!"

 

 

 

my god word, whatever next :(

 

maybe they'll have to throw Ashley out of Emmerdale as it might offend Islam

my god word, whatever next :(

 

maybe they'll have to throw Ashley out of Emmerdale as it might offend Islam

 

bugger islam, he offends ME! just by existing! so does that twittering wife of his...

"Three Little Cowboy Builders" does sound a bit amusing to be honest... But what would the wolf's motivation be for wanting to attack builders???? :lol: :lol: You can understand the motivation of a wolf to attack pigs because it wants to eat the little fukkers, but why would a wolf actually want to eat a builder???? Sorry, but I'm really just trying to illustrate the absolute nonsensical nature of this whole thing.... I personally doubt whether ANY muslim out there really gives a flying fukk about a fairy tale about pigs (I doubt whether the majority of them even know of the story anyway, much less care...), it aint as if the story is endorsing the bloody pork industry or anything is it..?

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".

 

The possible "banning" of Orwell's "Animal Farm" from school curriculums on such spurious grounds would be utterly disgusting, it is a classic of 20th Century literature that everyone should read (along with "1984", "Brave New World", "A Clockwork Orange" and "Catcher In The Rye")... And we criticised the Americans for trying to ban "Catcher In The Rye" from schools.. -_- This would be every bit as ridiculous... I was taught "Animal Farm" as a kid at secondary, and, guess what, there were MUSLIM KIDS in my class reading it as well, and really enjoying it as much as I was.....

 

I love Animal farm too :wub:

I agree with the above comments though, this is fonna give people the wrong idea that the muslims are the evil ones for asking for it to be banned when this isnt the case at all :(

this is gonna give people the wrong idea that the muslims are the evil ones for asking for it to be banned when this isnt the case at all :(

Yeah, and we all know who would be the ones giving out that impression dont we....? <_< The BNP and Tabloid scum who've done nothing but attempt to turn the ordinary, humble, law-abiding majority into hate figures.....

 

absolutely ridiculous.

Baa Baa Black Sheep has gone, and now the 3 Little Pigs? :lol:

 

Oh my childhood as a little kid is detireating before my eyes. :cry:

I'm sure the Muslims are having a conniption fit over the three little pigs :mellow:

Edited January 25, 200817 yr by Tyler

Baa Baa Black Sheep has gone, and now the 3 Little Pigs? :lol:

 

Oh my childhood as a little kid is detireating before my eyes. :cry:

 

 

Baa Baa Black sheep hasn't gone!!! And neither has the 3 Little Pigs!!!

 

In the name of research I asked 2 muslim parents their opinion of both - they said they found neither offensive and were more offended by whoever said they would be!!

Baa Baa Black sheep hasn't gone!!!

 

It has, my mum works in a pre-school and they arent allowed to sing Baa Baa Black Sheep because of

A - Inciting Racial Prejudice

B - Telling children there are different social classes

 

It's all madness

Why do we keep fuelling news like this??? It´s obvius that stuff like this are done by a minority, sometimes not even muslim, and are trown in the articles as being the work of the muslim world as if muslim people had nothing better to do.

It has, my mum works in a pre-school and they arent allowed to sing Baa Baa Black Sheep because of

A - Inciting Racial Prejudice

B - Telling children there are different social classes

 

It's all madness

 

 

Well I teach small people and we sing baa baa black sheep amongst MANY other songs :cheer: :cheer: :cheer:

 

 

Well I teach small people and we sing baa baa black sheep amongst MANY other songs :cheer: :cheer: :cheer:

 

Oh aye, they do at my ma's preschool as well

But should say Ofsted come in, they would be in trouble.