July 13, 2009
Pullman refuses to be vetted
The Guardian’s Alison Flood reports: Alongside other prominent children’s authors, Philip Pullman has condemned new rules that will require guest writers to register themselves with the Independent Safeguarding Authority in order to visit schools. The author compared the vetting scheme with the notorious legislation which banned the “promotion” of homosexuality in schools throughout the 1990s. “It seems to be fueled by the same combination of prurience, sexual fear and cold political calculation.” In protest, Pullman will no longer be making school visits, also acknowledging that other authors dependent on income generated from schools visits would be unable to make such a statement. “It’d be a great shame for me but I’m not going to under these circumstances.” Read more. Thanks to BlackSatinDancer for the news tip.
Social Networking 
|
3 Comments:
Post your own!Please keep comments on topic - we have a message board for general discussion.
waitingForDust says:
So ‘Are such things done on Albion’s shore?’ was even more prophetic than he imagined.
July 14, 2009 9:49 pm | link
The Golden Compass | Pullman defends school visits | His Dark Materials | BridgeToTheStars.Net says:
[...] 16, 2009 at 10:54 pm Earlier today, Philip Pullman spoke to Jeremy Vine on BBC Radio 2 about his decision to longer make school visits in the wake of new rules that require guest writers and illustrators [...]
Trackback July 16, 2009 10:54 pm | link
As I stated previously – good for him! Authors are NEVER alone with one or more children – there are ALWAYS teachers present. It’s insulting in that situation to require vetting!
July 13, 2009 7:14 pm | link