British mother wants Sleeping Beauty removed from her child's curriculum

Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-26 01:11:12|Editor: yan
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LONDON, Nov. 25 (Xinhua) -- It's one of the most popular fairy stories told by parents to generations of youngsters. Now a call has been made by a British mom for the book Sleeping Beauty to be banned from lessons in school.

Sarah Hall from northeast England said the timeless tale, in which an unconscious princess is kissed by a prince to wake her from a curse, features an inappropriate sexual message. The 40-year-old mom has contacted the school to request that the book be removed from the class attended by her six-year-old son Ben.

The mom contends the fairytale teaches children it's OK to kiss a women while she's asleep.

It comes in the wake of the Hollywood sex scandal that has had an explosive impact on British politics, and has now spread to schools and kindergartens across the country.

Opinion is divided, though in reader polls published by various newspapers most parents see the magical story as harmless.

Mom-of-two Hall, who said she was prompted to take action by the recent sexual harassment controversy in Hollywood, told her local newspaper, the Newcastle Chronicle: "I think it's a specific issue in the Sleeping Beauty story about sexual behavior and consent. It's about saying, 'Is this still relevant? Is it appropriate?

"In today's society, it isn't appropriate, my son is only six, he absorbs everything he sees."

She said her call for the book to be banned only refers to younger kids, saying the tale could be a great resource for older children to encourage discussions on consent and "how the Princess might feel".

The issue has fuelled a war of words and controversy on social media sites across Britain as a centuries-old fairy story is dragged into an issue that has engulfed the worlds of entertainment and politics. Thousands of parents have had their say on the issue.

Most are outraged by the attack of a story that had generated a popular Disney movie, stage musicals and festive pantomimes. Some parents, though, say Hall has raised a serious issue.

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