Saying it could be offensive to Muslims, a government organization rejected a digital video based on the Three Little Pigs. The video, entitled ‘The Three Little Cowboy Builders’, was criticized by the education technology agency, Becta, saying “the use of pigs raises cultural issues”.”Judges would not recommend this product to the Muslim community in particular,” a spokesman for Becta told Shoo Fly, creator of the story.
The story for primary school pupils replaces pigs with “cowboy builders” as part of a light-hearted tale designed to spark interest in reading and design technology skills.
However, the computer program’s creator lashed at Becta saying their comments was “a slap in the face. The feedback amounted to a verbal assault,” said Anne Curtis, the founder of Shoo Fly.
Shoo Fly gained recognition after winning at the prestigious Education Resource Awards for the said story. “I feel these criticisms aim to close the minds of teachers and young people to some issues.”
The book recently secured the “Best Primary Resource and Innovation in Education” prize at the Education Resource Awards, but Becta explained to the publishers that they “could not recommend this product to the Muslim community”.
The panel also suggested the book might be offensive to builders, what with it being entitled The Three Little Cowboy Builders. Becta asked: “Is it true that all builders are cowboys, builders get their work blown down, and builders are like pigs?”
Becta declared it would stick to its guns. A spokesman said: “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.”
Source - http://www.bnp.org.uk
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