Removal of Hemingway Text from Nova Scotia Online Curriculum Following Racial Content Concerns

因種族內容疑慮,新省在線課程刪除海明威作品


Introduction

The Nova Scotia Department of Education has excised Ernest Hemingway's 1927 short story, 'The Killers,' from a Grade 12 online English course after the identification of repeated racial slurs within the text.

新省教育局在一個 12 年級的英文在線課程中,刪除了海明威 1927 年的短篇小說《殺手》,原因是發現文本中反覆出現種族歧視用語。

Main Body

The literary work in question was positioned as an optional reading selection within a self-guided module of the Independent Online Learning program. The text contains twelve instances of a derogatory term for Black individuals, appearing without redaction or preparatory warnings for the students. The removal of the material was precipitated by a formal inquiry from a parent and subsequent journalistic scrutiny by CBC News.

該文學作品原被列為「獨立在線學習」計畫中一個自導模組的可選閱讀項目。文中包含 12 處針對黑人的貶義詞,且未經刪減或對學生提供預先警告。

Institutional protocols for the selection of sensitive materials ostensibly require a bias evaluation and the implementation of specific pedagogical strategies, including the provision of historical context and the preparation of students for controversial content. While the Department of Education maintains that consultants review resources to ensure alignment with best practices, it has declined to confirm whether these specific guidelines were applied to the inclusion of 'The Killers.' Notably, other texts containing limited use of the same slur, such as the Autobiography of Malcolm X, remain authorized for use in different grade levels.

機構在選擇敏感教材的協議中,表面上要求進行偏見評估並實施特定的教學策略,包括提供歷史背景以及讓學生為爭議性內容做好準備。雖然教育局堅稱有顧問審查資源以確保符合最佳實踐,但拒絕確認這些特定指南是否應用於《殺手》的納入。值得注意的是,其他包含少量相同歧視詞的文本(如《馬爾庫姆 X 自傳》)在不同年級仍獲准使用。

Stakeholders within the Black community and academia have characterized the inclusion of the text as a failure of institutional oversight. Critics, including former departmental strategists and university faculty, posit that the absence of a rigorous bias evaluation exacerbates systemic distrust and perpetuates dehumanization. The discourse emphasizes that the failure to adhere to established sensitivity protocols may result in psychological trauma for students and reflects a broader institutional deficiency in addressing systemic racism.

黑人群體與學術界的利害關係人將納入該文本定性為機構監管的失敗。包括前部門策略師與大學教職在內的批評者認為,缺乏嚴謹的偏見評估會加劇系統性的不信任,並使非人化現象持續。論述強調,未能遵守既定的敏感度協議可能會對學生造成心理創傷,並反映出機構在應對系統性種族主義方面存在更廣泛的缺陷。

Conclusion

The Department of Education has removed the story, though it remains silent on the specific administrative failures that led to its initial inclusion.

教育局已將該故事移除,但對於導致最初納入課程的具體行政失敗仍保持沉默。

Vocabulary Learning

The Architecture of Institutional Evasion

To transition from B2 to C2, a student must move beyond describing an event to interrogating the linguistic posture of the writer. In this text, the primary 'teachable' phenomenon is The Lexicon of Administrative Distancing.

Observe how the author employs specific verbs and adverbs to signal a critique of institutional failure without using overtly emotional language. This is the hallmark of C2 academic prose: precision as a weapon.

⚡ The 'Precision' Pivot

Instead of saying "The school removed the story," the text uses "excised."

  • B2 level: Removed/Took out
  • C2 level: Excised
  • Nuance: "Excise" carries a surgical connotation. It implies the removal of something malignant or diseased. By choosing this word, the author subtly frames the Hemingway text not just as a mistake, but as a pathology within the curriculum.

🔍 The Subtle Art of the 'Hedge'

Note the use of "ostensibly."

*"Institutional protocols... ostensibly require a bias evaluation..."

At the C2 level, "ostensibly" is a power-word. It creates a binary between appearance and reality. It suggests that while the rules exist on paper, they are likely ignored in practice. A B2 student might use "apparently," but "ostensibly" explicitly invites the reader to be skeptical of the institution's claims.

🛠️ Syntactic Density: Nominalization

C2 English thrives on converting actions into concepts (nominalization) to maintain an objective, scholarly tone. Compare these two structures:

  • Action-oriented (B2): Because a parent asked and the news reported it, the department removed the story.
  • Nominalized (C2): *"The removal of the material was precipitated by a formal inquiry from a parent and subsequent journalistic scrutiny..."

Analysis: By turning "asking" into a "formal inquiry" and "reporting" into "journalistic scrutiny," the text shifts the focus from the people to the processes. This creates an atmosphere of officialdom and systemic critique.


C2 Takeaway: To master this level, stop searching for "big words" and start searching for words that position the subject. Use verbs like precipitate, exacerbate, and posit to construct an argument that feels inevitable and authoritative.

Vocabulary Learning

excised (v.)
removed or cut out, especially from a text or document
Example:The editor excised the controversial passage from the manuscript.
identification (n.)
the process of recognizing or naming a person or thing
Example:The identification of repeated slurs prompted swift action.
derogatory (adj.)
expressing a low opinion or disrespect towards someone or something
Example:The text contained a derogatory term that offended many readers.
redaction (n.)
the removal or alteration of sensitive information from a document
Example:The report underwent redaction before publication.
preparatory (adj.)
serving as a preparation or preliminary stage for something
Example:The preparatory warnings were deemed insufficient.
precipitated (v.)
caused to happen suddenly or abruptly
Example:The incident precipitated a review of the curriculum.
scrutiny (n.)
careful examination or inspection
Example:The text faced intense scrutiny from educators.
protocols (n.)
established procedures or rules for conducting actions
Example:The protocols for sensitive material were followed.
ostensibly (adv.)
apparently or seemingly, but possibly not actually
Example:The policy was ostensibly designed to protect students.
implementation (n.)
the act of putting a plan or system into effect
Example:Implementation of new guidelines began next semester.
pedagogical (adj.)
relating to teaching methods or educational practice
Example:Pedagogical strategies were adjusted to address content concerns.
provision (n.)
the act of supplying or making available something
Example:The provision of historical context helped students understand the text.
historical context (n.)
the circumstances and events surrounding a particular period
Example:Including historical context clarified the author’s intent.
controversial (adj.)
likely to provoke disagreement or debate
Example:The novel’s themes were considered controversial by some.
consultants (n.)
professionals hired to provide expert advice
Example:Consultants reviewed the curriculum for compliance.
alignment (n.)
the state of being in agreement or harmony
Example:Alignment with best practices was a key concern.
guidelines (n.)
recommended principles or instructions for action
Example:The guidelines outlined how to handle sensitive topics.
authorized (adj.)
officially approved or sanctioned
Example:Only authorized texts were permitted in the syllabus.
stakeholders (n.)
individuals or groups with an interest or concern in a matter
Example:Stakeholders voiced their concerns during the meeting.
academia (n.)
the world of higher education and scholarly research
Example:Academia debated the merits of the removal.
characterized (v.)
described or portrayed in a particular way
Example:The policy was characterized as overly cautious.
oversight (n.)
the action of overseeing or supervising
Example:A lack of oversight led to the oversight of the text.
strategists (n.)
people who plan or devise strategies
Example:Former strategists criticized the decision-making process.
posit (v.)
to propose or assert as a fact or truth
Example:They posit that bias evaluation is essential.
absence (n.)
the state of not being present or lacking
Example:The absence of clear guidelines caused confusion.
rigorous (adj.)
strict, thorough, or demanding in standards
Example:A rigorous evaluation was conducted before approval.
exacerbates (v.)
makes a problem worse or more severe
Example:The delay exacerbates existing tensions.
systemic (adj.)
relating to or affecting an entire system
Example:Systemic racism requires comprehensive solutions.
distrust (n.)
lack of trust or confidence in someone or something
Example:Distrust grew among parents after the incident.
perpetuates (v.)
continues or sustains over time
Example:The policy perpetuates harmful stereotypes.
dehumanization (n.)
the act of treating people as less than human
Example:The slur contributed to the dehumanization of the group.
discourse (n.)
written or spoken communication or debate
Example:The discourse surrounding the issue intensified.
adhere (v.)
to stick to or follow a set of rules or principles
Example:Teachers must adhere to the established guidelines.
established (adj.)
accepted, recognized, or firmly set in place
Example:The school follows established protocols for curriculum review.
sensitivity (n.)
the quality of being aware of and responsive to others’ feelings
Example:Sensitivity training is part of the faculty development program.
psychological trauma (n.)
deep mental distress caused by a distressing event
Example:The content could trigger psychological trauma in some students.
deficiency (n.)
a lack or shortage of something necessary
Example:The deficiency in oversight was highlighted by the report.
addressing (v.)
dealing with or confronting a problem or issue
Example:Addressing systemic racism requires collective effort.
inclusion (n.)
the act or state of including or being included
Example:The policy emphasizes the inclusion of diverse perspectives.
autobiography (n.)
a self-written account of one’s life
Example:The autobiography of Malcolm X offers valuable insights.
institutional (adj.)
relating to an organization or established system
Example:Institutional oversight failed to catch the issue.
self-guided (adj.)
conducted independently, without direct supervision
Example:The self-guided module allowed students to learn at their own pace.
Practice C2 words in a crossword