Board agrees to review British atheist's novels
Panel will evaluate literary, not religious, merits of Pullman book, educator says
JAMES RUSK
From Friday's Globe and Mail
November 23, 2007 at 4:12 AM EST
After a complaint that The Golden Compass, a popular children's fantasy book, was written by a professed atheist, the Halton Catholic District School Board is taking the book off shelves in school libraries while it reviews its suitability for students.
But the religious opinions of award-winning British author Philip Pullman will not be an issue when the book is read and reviewed by a committee of 15 people, who will pass their assessment on to the board for a decision, said Rick MacDonald, the board superintendent of education in charge of curriculum.
"It is the book we look at, not the author," said Mr. MacDonald, who said the board has also removed the other two books in Mr. Pullman's trilogy, His Dark Materials, from the shelves while they are reviewed by board librarians.
The public attention to The Golden Compass, first published in 1996, has been heightened because a film starring Nicole Kidman based on the novel - the first book of the trilogy - is about to go into distribution.
Mr. Pullman's views on religion are no secret. He said, for instance, in a 2002 question-and-answer session with readers of the newspaper The Guardian, that he saw no evidence for the existence of God.
Queen's University English literature professor Shelley King said the issue of whether the board should take Mr. Pullman's books from the shelf came up yesterday with her third-year class, and she and her students agreed it is a difficult question.
"It depends whether you are more interested in doctrine or in literary excellence. If your choice of reading matter is doctrinally driven, and you are not interested in challenges to received doctrine, then by all means, Pullman is not the man you want kids reading," Dr. King said.
Gordon Davies, head of languages, arts and sciences at the school of continuing education at the University of Toronto, said the school board's action has to be put into context.
It is not asking that the book not be read, sold or lent by a public library, said Dr. Davies, an expert on Catholic education.
"All the school board is saying is that it has a responsibility to provide education within the Catholic faith," Dr. Davies said.
Harry Potter and His Dark Materials are compulsory reading
Despite being an atheist, Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials is the most spiritual story you will ever get to read. What the books are against is totalitarian authorities and censorship, and that's exactly what you get from the conservative wings of the world's major religions (Christianity, Islam and Judaism). It's a shame because one only has to read the death of a character and his daemon (their external soul that takes the form of an animal companion that represents who they are)... it is the most beautifully written literature you could ever want to read, emotional and spiritual.
Dr King says it best:
"If your choice of reading matter is doctrinally driven, and you are not interested in challenges to received doctrine, then by all means, Pullman is not the man you want kids reading."
The Catholic Church is only interested in indoctrinating, not educating.
Indeed
heck.. the book I am writing would prolly be banned ahahhaha
Being a Catholic School district.. I suppose they do have the right to screen what books the district can use. I do believe in their right to do what they think is right. I don't think it is a good idea to do what they are doing though.
One of the things that really bothers me is that they are so insecure that they cannot take any different ideas being presented. How is that an education? I wouldn't be too tough on them though. In the Bible Belt they have banned a lot of Mark Twain and others. It is all about power isn't it? They will all give it lip service about it not being appropriate etc, but it just means they lose control and power.
I recall a time when my wasband wanted to tell me what I could and couldn't read. Supposedly, because, I was the mother of HIS children he had the right to censor my reading material. I didn't obey him. ahhahahaha Guess I wasn't a very 'good' wife.
It all starts small...then it is too late when you realize you are boiling alive.
Marissa -
Love that word "wasband", may I borrow it please?!!
Hugs, Kathrinn
selectivities
The Catholic Church is only interested in indoctrinating, not educating.
Quite very unlike, say, our modern (or ancient) public school systems? No, wait, let's not go there. Not here where so many already know better.
But hey, this is interesting: when I close my eyes tight, I can see no evidence of the Daily Grail!
Maybe I should write a book!
we could all write a book
each of us do a chapter.. pass it on lol
ahhahaha.. like we did around the campfire so long ago
well well.
Well, well. this is where all the monkies are, as Greg would say, have been gathering!(Ha Ha Ha)Just imagine, the air pollution darkening up the sky to a point we could not see the moon, the stars, sun, or anything in the space itself. Eventually, everyone would feel the earth is flat, talk of the cosmos is crazy, and all intellects best be rounded up and burned with the books they wrote. Bugger all you can do about human nature. My friend compared it to a cancer eating itself, sheer cannabalism at its best.