Poem "Education for Leisure" removed from GCSE anthology?

Question

this poem, by Carol Anne Duffy has been removed from the GCSE potry anthology following complaints. http://community.tes.co.uk/forums/t/237669.aspx?PageIndex=1
I would be interested in the opinions of people actually studying it what they think of this censorship. As poet Andrew Motion has pointed out, pupils still study Shakespear which is full of violence (Romeo and Juliet = Gang warfare, stabbing, murder, under-age sex and suicide just as an example)

reggie · Accepted Answer

Pretty dumb isn't it? Yet those violent video games are still allowed.  You can almost see all those GCSE students dashing to the shops to buy a knife to re-enact the poem . . . . .

indreamsi · Answer

While agreeing with the earlier answers, I despair that such a poem was ever considered worthy for study by GCSE students in the first place. There is so much uplifting poetry, old and new to choose from, that I question the motives and judgement of those who selected such a "nasty" poem. It is they who should be removed; from being able to influence children's education.
No wonder most young people are turned off by poetry.

AMIE™[CCFC] · Answer

Now that's stupid.
I studied this last year in GCSE's, had no problem with it.
If it's going to be removed, then so should a lot of poems from that book.
Including 'Hitcher', which describes a man nearly beaten to death.

Xx

Anonymous · Answer

i have the book with me now... and have just started studying the poems. The poem i don't think should be removed .... be nowadays everything has to be looked at , they will probably scrap shakespeare 2 in couple of years ... won't surprise me ! lol

Anonymous · Answer

i did the other two poets in that book so never encountered it

Poem "Education for Leisure" removed from GCSE anthology?

5 Answers