News

« Headlines

Three Little Pigs deemed offensive

23.01.08

A modern take on the classic Three Little Pigs has been excluded from an annual award, because the subject matter could offend muslims and builders, according to the BBC.

Three Little Cowboy Builders, published by Shoo-fly in CD-rom format, was rejected by judges of this year's annual school prize, the Bett Award, by judges who warned that "the use of pigs raises cultural issues". The judges also attacked Three Little Cowboy Builders for offending builders.

The book's creative director, Anne Curtis, told the BBC that the idea that including pigs in a story could be interpreted as racism was "like a slap in the face".

She added 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.

BBC online

Childrens Media Prize

See Also