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Three Wishes Controversy Continues in Ontario SchoolsSchool boards across Ontario continue to weigh in on Three Wishes, a controversial book that explores the Israeli-Palestinian conflict through interviews with children from both sides that had been recommended by the Ontario Library Association for 4th–6th graders as part of its Silver Birch reading program.After reviewing the title, the Durham District School Board voted to leave it on library shelves. Chair Michael Barrett said in the March 22 Toronto Star that the board acted on the advice of its library staff and ethno-cultural officer, factoring in the vetting process of OLA’s Silver Birch selection committee. In 2000, after complaints from Christian parents over the depiction of witchcraft in the Harry Potter series, the board temporarily removed the books from its schools. Also deciding to retain Three Wishes were the Limestone District School Board in Kingston and the Avon Maitland District School Board in Seaforth, the Canadian Jewish News reported March 23. However, Limestone Superintendent of Instruction Pat Warren-Chaplin said teachers who use the book will be required “to read it first before students, to provide context and an introduction.” Meanwhile, the March 22 Ottawa Sun said the book is under review by the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board. “We have not issued anything to any schools at all statement-wise around what we recommend them to do because we are still in the process of reviewing the book,” said Merrill Mathews, the board’s equity and diversity consultant. “We are still in the process of understanding where all of the controversy is.” The controversy began in February when the Canadian Jewish Council wrote OLA and every school board in the province, asking them to withdraw the title from the reading program, arguing that it lacked historical context, was too sophisticated for children in the recommended age group, and demonized people on both sides of the conflict. At a March 20 news conference held in the Lillian H. Smith branch of Toronto Public Library, representatives from PEN Canada and the Writer’s Guild, publishers, authors, librarians, parents, and a young reader called on school boards that have removed the book to reverse their decision, the Star reported March 21. In a statement, Three Wishes author Deborah Ellis said, “I have done many school talks around my books about children in war. Kids can handle the truth about what is being done to other children. It’s adults who get squeamish. They say, ’We must protect our children from such things,’ when really they are protecting themselves from having to answer the question: ’What are you doing to make the world better?’” Posted March 24, 2006. |
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