AQA axe knife poem
UPDATE There's a Have Your Say discussion, and story on News Online. Education editor at News Online, Gary Eason, also points us to an earlier row about the poem, but one that didn't result in its removal from text books. How times have changed.
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The AQA have removed a poem, Education for Leisure by Carol Ann Duffy, from the anthology studied by GCSE pupils. An iPM listener put us on to the story - here's the email:
Are you aware that one of the key poems taught at GCSE to thousands of Year
11 pupils, and included in their Anthology provided by one of the major exam boards, is to be axed because it makes reference to knife crime?
We put that to AQA, here's what they said:
Following concerns raised about this particular poem we have decided to remove it from our anthology from the start of the coming academic year (2008/9). We are writing to centres to inform them of our decision and advise them to destroy their current copies of the anthology: these will be replaced with new anthologies, with the poem removed, for all cohorts beginning their course of study in September 08. Candidates who are half way through their course will be able to continue studying the poem for the 2009 examination.
The decision to withdraw the poem was not taken lightly and only after due consideration of the issues involved. We believe the decision underlines the often difficult balance that exists between encouraging and facilitating young people to think critically about difficult but important topics and the need to do this in a way which is sensitive to social issues and public concern.
Why did the poem raise public concern? Perhaps lines like these:
Today I am going to kill something. Anything.
I have had enough of being ignored and today
I am going to play God...
.... I get our bread-knife and go out.
The pavements glitter suddenly. I touch your arm.
The poem references King Lear ( "as flies to wanton boys") and there are certainly plenty of sensitive social issues in Shakespeare. MacBeth, to pick the most obvious example from a long list, was a dab hand at knife crime. So can we, should we, expunge allusions to knife crime, even vague allusions as in this poem, from school anthologies?
Well back in 2005 in an unrelated discussion about a controversial poem, another listener wrote to us and said of Education for Leisure:
What sort of "literature" is this for 15 year olds to be asked to "study" for GCSE??
But others take a very different view, as you can read on these forums. where the decision was widely ridiculed.
Maybe they'll get rid of 'Of Mice & Men' because of gun crime.
What do you think?
UPDATE: There's background to the complaint that triggered the removal of the poem here. According to that article it suggests it followed a complaint from an invigilator, Pat Schofield. The Rugby Advertiser reported that the AQA at the time of her initial campaign, in July, said,
"When taught sensitively it enables schools to explore the contemporary social context and the psychological context surrounding the narrator of the poem alongside its literary merits"
UPDATE II Nick Seaton, Chairman of the Campaign for Real Education told us, "I'm not in favour of censorship but I think Education for Leisure is a cruel poem and doesn't deserve to be included in the AQA's anthology. When we've got so much magnificent poetry in the English language it seems wrong that this poem should be included. The poem is about irresponsible power over things and I can well imagine it will appeal to the baser instincts of some people. Education should be about lifting spirits. I don't think this poem has anything to recommend it."
UPDATE III Frankie asks about posting the whole poem online. We'd like to do that but while it can be easily found on the net, there are rights issues associated with posting it entire - we're working on them.
UPDATE IV Peter Strauss (Carol Ann Duffy's Literary Agent) told us: "This poem is pro education and anti violence. It is not glorifying violence in any way. Carol Ann Duffy is a vocational poet for the young. She gets children fired up about language and verse. She talks to more schoolchildren than I've ever met. She's encouraged more people to have a love of words and a love of education than anyone else I know."
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Good. What a load of rubbish. One simple criticism is, it is focused on one side of the situation, and is just a plain progression of violence. The odd thing is it seems the writer got bored creating it and just jumped from the goldfish to murder. There is not even an ounce of self questioning.
Good decision.
(PS. I am not a fan of English education in schools having suffered an experimental learning system)
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How about posting a the full poem (or a link to it) so that we can judge for ourselves?
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Actions like this illustrate that education is not led by common sense, teachers and demand for better education, but by bureaucrats and people getting paid to make paper drawings of the system. The poem is not at all pro-violence, on the contrary. And what about classics such as Hamlet, are they to be removed and destroyed as well because one person doesn't like (and probably doesn't understand) it and interprets the presented violence as glorification of violence? And what's next? Remove and burn all 'degenerate art' (entartete kunst) because politicians and civil servants don't appreciate it?
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I find the reaction to this poem is pitiful. It scares me to think that those with the power to withdraw the poem from the GCSE anthology obviously do not understand it at all. It's a great piece of writing that chills you to the bone and gives you a rare insight into the mind of someone with no moral bounds. Withdrawn on the grounds of being pro-violence and the message this could give to those studying the poem, should not books like 'Lord of the Flies' or the numerous graphically-violent scenes to be found in Shakespeare, also be withdrawn? No, of course not. As far as 'sending messages' goes, I wonder if the school who ripped out the page from the anthology book, should be cautioned for sending out the message that criminal damage is ok?
Carol Ann Duffy is one of the greats who has led thousands of children to develop both a love of language and an ability to express. In my opinion she is to be studied, embraced and congratulated.
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A* GCSE Student here! I've just finished the GCSE syllabus and studied this poem, among others. The thing is that this poem is NOT rubbish - the 'aimless' murders that the narrator commits can be attributed to a huge biblical reference, going back to the third line, 'I am going to play God'. I mean, just look at the order: fly, cat, goldfish, budgie, and then /you/: it's all contained in the Christian biblical cosmology, each creature (generalising, a budgie is a bird after all) specified on one day or another. I mean, it even continues with line 14, 'I see that it is good.' It's obviously a reference to biblical creation, and the fact that the killer is slowly unraveling it, one part by one.
Carol Ann Duffy didn't think while writing this poem, 'OK, I'm writing about a murderer, how many things can he kill under one roof?' It's all planned out in accordance to a theme, and that can be seen as the killer's will to make himself known to the world and seize control of his life, rather than being unappreciated and trudging over to the dole office every two weeks, as shown, 'Once a fortnight, I walk the two miles into town / for signing on.'
It's really a clever poem, and an awful lot more interesting (for me at least) than the material from the Pre-1914 Poetry Bank in the AQA anthology.
Also, it's an essay writers dream come true - I mean, imagine how many points I'd get if I could write that down on a question? (Should such a question occur - they differ per year) :P AQA've really hindered some people's education by limiting the choice of poems even further. I hope they're going to pick a poem that students can analyse to an equal degree for their exams.
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Livestock?
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I assume Ms Schofield hasn't read 'Hitcher', which is also included in The Anthology.
But it doesn't have a picture, of course.
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I am a tutor for GCSE English Literature_ I would say students show real enthusiasm and appreciation for Education for Leisure; to say it is 'violent' is to entirely miss the message contained in this great poem.
If 'Education for Leisure' is going to be removed then 'Hitcher 'should be also removed... and what about 'The Laboratory.' GCSE English Literature students are able to make their own judgements about the poems in the anthology. It is patronising to assume otherwise.
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rabbi's the name, morally punching the AQA is my game. never fear , RABBI is here
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i dunt lik dis poem, it scarrs me. :( howaver i wil mak sur i red agin
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The AQA's decision to axe the poem makes as much sense as ears on an acorn!
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This makes me poop myself
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The other day I was watching the film 'Lord of the Rings' and I'm pretty sure that over 10,000 people get killed under the hand of sharp objects. Lord of the Rings is rated a 12, meaning that 12 year olds can watch it. My point is that Carol Ann Duffy's poem 'Education for Leisure' is aimed at GCSE students. So if you put together the fact that all serious knife crime increases have happend in the last few years, and Duffy's poem came out in the 1980's. So, there is more chance of Lord of the Rings incouraging knife crime - because the heroes are the killers -than 'Education for Leisure' where nobody dies.
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'Education for Lesiure' is a brilliant, thought-provoking poem, and removing it is downright patronising. As a teenager myself, I feel insulted and disgusted at the decision to axe it. No-one is going to read it and then go out and stab someone, the AQA obviously don't care how the candidate studying the poem feels, and only listen to the complaining examiners.
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It has come to my attention that the AQA have removed Carol-Ann Duffy's Poem: "Education for Leisure" from the Anthology. I am both disgraced and disgusted with this decision; I cannot comprehend the fact that they consider the poem pro-violence and anti-education.
My opinion is that it is the complete opposite, and that the AQA board are stereotyping youths with a closed mind. If they begin to censor what students will be reading and learning from, stopping students from experiencing an articulate and thought-provoking poem.
In my opinon, this poem proves that a lack of education and a love of violence will turn an individual into a loathsome person, who is a plague on society.
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I am absolutely disgusted at this decision to remove the poem from the Anthologies, and I know I am one of the majority who want this poem back to study, with myself being a GCSE student.
Why was this poem being removed anyway? Because of its references to knife crime, I have heard. Only once throughout the whole poem did it actually mention a knife. Also, it has been pointed out that Shakespeare's plays involve knifes. This is because, at the time of writing, everybody carried knifes and swords as a form of protection. If the poem is seen as pro-violence, then it hasn't done a very good job.
I also think that the AQA have been 'scared' into removing this poem, just because one teacher / examiner thought it glorified violence. What does the person in the poem kill? A fly. Everybody does that at home, using fly swats. And the budgie? Just because it looks scared does not mean the person will kill it as well. In my opinion this decision is a whole load of rubbish.
That is all.
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the aqa's decision is undermining and patrinising to teenagers. shouldnt we able to read a poem without the whole country getting that were going to stab someone.
if teenagers cant be treated with the respect then how do adults expect us to treat them with respect.
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I am outraged at the choice to remove this poem, it is a great poem which raises many key and interesting issues like knife crime as well as unemployment. I have seen many far more violent films and tv shows that were aimed at a much younger audience.
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A* GCSE Student here and please vote for me for school council! I'm just doing the GCSE syllabus and studied this poem, among others. The thing is that this poem is NOT rubbish - the 'aimless' murders that the narrator commits can be attributed to a huge biblical reference, going back to the third line, 'I am going to play God'. I mean, just look at the order: fly, cat, goldfish, budgie, and then /you/: it's all contained in the Christian biblical cosmology, each creature (generalising, a budgie is a bird after all) specified on one day or another. I mean, it even continues with line 14, 'I see that it is good.' It's obviously a reference to biblical creation, and the fact that the killer is slowly unraveling it, one part by one.
Carol Ann Duffy didn't think while writing this poem, 'OK, I'm writing about a murderer, how many things can he kill under one roof?' It's all planned out in accordance to a theme, and that can be seen as the killer's will to make himself known to the world and seize control of his life, rather than being unappreciated and trudging over to the dole office every two weeks, as shown, 'Once a fortnight, I walk the two miles into town / for signing on.'
It's really a clever poem, and an awful lot more interesting (for me at least) than the material from the Pre-1914 Poetry Bank in the AQA anthology.
Also, it's an essay writers dream come true - I mean, imagine how many points I'd get if I could write that down on a question? AQA've really hindered some people's education by limiting the choice of poems even further. I hope they're going to pick a poem that students can analyse to an equal degree for their exams. I love this poem.
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I am disgusted at the decision to remove the poem 'Education for Leisure' from the GCSE Anthology. I have read this poem and believe that it does not encourage knife crime but instead class discussions.
The AQA are trying to protect us from society and by censoring the poem they are doing nothing to help. They are submitting to one of their examiners. It is not their job to try to protct people. What evidence does the AQA have that this poem influences knife crime?
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i like dis now
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I am an A* GCSE student and I am great. I got full marks on my exam, so I am a genius. I think 'I am playing God'. I have recently read the poem 'Education For Leisure', I do not agree with a AQA and think that it should not have been removed from the Anthology. Shouldnt this mean some films rated 15 with knife crime and murdering should be looked at again by film examiners and should be put up to an 18? Think about it!!!!!!
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no i dont actually
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Having recently read the poem 'Education For Leisure' I am disgusted to find it being removed from the AQA because of one examiner's opinion.
Is it the AQA's responsibilty to decide what GCSE students read?
:)
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i like peter pan
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PETER PAN
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I think the AQA should re-consider their removal of the poem 'Education For Leisure' by Carol Ann Duffy as I am extremley disappointed in the removal of the poem as its artistic imagery and techniques are being unappreciated. The poem could be said to be demonstrating violence, but to simply remove the poem because they're worried that the knife crime in the poem would convince students to do the same, when the psyco in the poem is being made to sound so heartless, cruel and evil. I think that a major stir in the country will occur due to the AQA's thoughtless removal of the poem as lots of teenagers will be feeling partonised and as if they're being treated like children. very annoyed.
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PETER PAN!
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TEJA BAPURAM, T-E-J-A! VOTE TEJA!!!
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I am a student who's currently studying this poem. There is unsufficient evidence that this poem, 'Education for Leisure', can provoke people to this types of things stated. If you think about it, violence is all around us anyway; it's not that there are more violence, it's just the media shows more of them.
AQA shouldnot have removed the poem by pure pressure. The evidence of the removal of the poem is onesided argument. I understand that some adults might feel uncomfortable with the poem, but is that the reason to remove the people when many students can benefit from studying this poem.
I feel that it is a mistake taking this poem off the anthology.
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VOTEJA T-E-J-A
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dis pom scarrs mi, i dunt lik it
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VOTE LEE FTW
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dis scars mi so much :(
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I hope other poeple agree with me.
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I believe everybody form shenley agrees with me.
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BRING BACK THE POEM!
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GJ at ruining SBE's rep peeps..
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I am a GCSE student currently studying 'Education For Leisure' and I totally agree with the A*, student she says the killings is 'aimless' and I believe that is true. The person in the poem kills a goldfish! That is a well good reason to remove it from all anthologies.
Carol Anne Duffy did not have a goal to get various youth to kill one another for fun. However, She wrote it for us to evaluate, debate and discuss. The AQA have no right to dictate what poems we study and which one we don't, they have taken the matter too sensitively and they have been forced into this decision. Where is their authority?
Plus, there is no proof that someone after this poem has murdered anyone. If there is i would like to know. You need evidence to prove it.
All of a sudden there has been a rise of knife crime in the U.K and removing a few stanzas from an anthology is ineffective. If the poem seems to leads to psychiatric care than that is more reasonable but murder, I don?t think so! The decision is belittling, making the youth of today feel guilty and disrespected.
'Today I am going to kill something. Anything.' I don't think Mrs Scholfield read the rest of the poem! No one gets killed in this diary of a psychotic youth.
When I read this poem I thought it was brilliant, interesting and clever. She has written it for a purpose (not for us to kill each other). I congratulate her because, many other poets may not have the guts to do this but she has made a brave attempt. Well Done.
AQA should be ashamed of themselves for restricting our education.
And we do not use our Education For Leisure!
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Too right J0rD5t3R.
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We are currently studying the poem 'Education for Leisure' at school and I have found it very interesting. It has contributed to many thought-provoking discussions in class. I am disheartened by the irresponsible decision of the AQA to remove this educational poem. I feel that because this is a modern poem it has been removed, why is it that other poems and stories with violence are still included in the AQA course? I think that the AQA simply cracked under the pressure from media promoting the recent raise of knife crime and took the very motivating and educational poem out of our GSCE Anthology books.
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In year 11, we are currently studying "Education for Leisure" and I, along with my classmates, are utterly outraged at the fact that you have removed this fascinating and educational poem.
The poem was removed from the AQA GCSE Anthology due to an 'apparent' rise in knife crime. However, if the AQA was to removed from this book, would we discuss these issues in class, or would it be a secret topic, where no one would want or choose to discuss it?
The fact that you have never questionned poems or stories from the likes of Shakespeare is appaulling, because I feel that they express greater violence.
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no comments yet? i'm dissapointed
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hi
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hello
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MIGHTY FINE!
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A thankfully rare, but never the less, very worrying and foolish response to what ails the world. The worst kind of censorship is that which stems from the desire to sweep painful issues under the carpet.
The AQA should apologise and immediately reinstate the poem; explaining once again what it's literary and educational merits are. They should also advise teachers to use this furore surrounding it as part of the discussion surrounding the poem.
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