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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| Three Little Pigs 'too offensive' | Three Little Pigs 'too offensive' |
| (1 day later) | |
| 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 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' | '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. | 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". | 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". | 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)". | 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?" | 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? | 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? | 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". | 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, 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. | "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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | "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. | "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. |