Canadian Concern

Yesterday my little six year old daughter came home with a note from her teacher:

"Note to parents: Some time ago I received free books for my class, as we do every year for Grade One. There was a note from the Department of Education regarding one of the poems. I hesitated to send home the books, as I personally have a problem with the poem Bratty Brother. (It may well be my age and rather conservative outlook) That being said, I am sending home the books along with the Department of Education letter. I would love to hear your comments. Thanks as always."

And here is the letter from the Department of Education:

"Dear Principal:
Re: Alligator Stew: Favourite Poems Issue Alert
Since 2000, in cooperation with education departments and schooLboards across -the country, the Canadian Children's Book Centre has given a free Canadian children's book to every grade one child in Canada. This is made possible through the generous sponsorship of the TD Bank Financial Group. The book of choice for 2005 is Alligator Stew: Favourite Poems by Dennis Lee, It is the statute of the Canadian Children's Book Centre that the book be taken home by each grade one student and read with their parents.
While there are many very funny poems in the collection, the Department of Education is concerned with one of the selections and we wish to bring this to your attention. The poem, Bratty Brother is a violent poem and the humour of it escapes our reviewers. Some parents may also respond negatively to the poem. You may wish to discuss the poem with your teachers before you send the book home with students.
Should you wish to express your concerns about the book, you can contact The Canadian Children's Book Centre at the following address:

The Canadian Children's Book Centre Suite 101,40 Orchard View Blvd. Toronto, Ontario M4R 1B9 Phone: (416) 975-0010 Fax:(416)975-8970 info @bookcentre.ca www.bookcentre.ca
Yours truly, xxx"

So I wrote a comment to Elaine's teacher, a very nice lady, with the right feeling for children:

"Dear Ms xxx
I want to take the opportunity to give my comments about the poem “Bratty Brother”.
Your message in Elaine message book and the letter from the Department of Education has made me curious about the poem. (It is a good way to make people curious.) So I read the message, the letter and the poem immediately to my children and we started a conversation about violence and how “violent” is this poem.

It’s not violent. Even a six year old child can understand that this is a joke. In our family with a radical-libertarian orientation, we talk about politics, beheaded and kidnapped people in Iraq and the violent problems in the world. Our kids don’t grow up under a cheese dome. They learn earlier than other kids, the difference between reality and imagination.

As we ate we made jokes about this poem and we had a good laugh. As I have said: It was the first poem we read from this book. Later my wife and I read other poems in this book. We have never seen more stupid, boring and senseless poetry for children as in this one. Example: “Anna Banana, jump into the stew:” Nonsense for kids! Nonsense for everybody! Dim-witted!

Sorry, we hope you understand, best regards RR"

Later at night I checked the internet. Here are the results of my search: see below

And here is the poem:

Lets have a look to one of the other poems:

"Anna Banana

Anna Banana, jump into the stew:

Gravy and carrots are good for you.

Good for your teeth

And your fingernails too,

So Anna Banana, jump into the stew!"

Well, why she should jump into the stew? Are there no better books for kids?

O.K. never look a gift-horse in the mouth....

One of the feedbacks I got:

"Hi
I have heard about this controversy but had not seen the poem and I did not see the note.  What rubbish! Have these people never seen a Bugs Bunny cartoon! People covering their butts in case they get sued by an offended individual. As if children aren’t intelligent enough to distinguish between real violence and play violence.
 

Cheers!  xxx"
 

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"N.S. educators can't see humour in 'Bratty Brother' poem
Last Updated Tue, 20 Dec 2005 11:25:40 EST
CBC Arts
Nova Scotia's Department of Education is finding a Dennis Lee poem about a bratty brother too violent for its tastes.

Officials from the department have written to principals across the province warning them the poem, in a book that was distributed free to every Grade 1 student, may not be suitable for young children.

Earlier this year, the Toronto-based Canadian Children's Book Centre chose Lee's book Alligator Stew: Favourite Poems as its gift to every Grade 1 student in the country as part of a plan to promote literacy.

Lee became a household name in the 1970s with his poem Alligator Pie. He's been a staple in children's literature ever since, winning awards for his poems that reflect his unique sense of humour.

But the Bratty Brother poem in the collection has officials in the department concerned.

In a funny, irreverent way a child ponders getting rid of his bratty brother by having him eaten by sharks or pushing him off the CN Tower.

Officials from the department asked principals to discuss the poem with teachers before the book is handed out to students.

"The poem, Bratty Brother, is a violent poem and the humour of it escapes our reviewers. Some parents may also respond negatively to the poem," the letter states.

Education spokesperson Peter McLaughlin said the department staff who reviewed the book were concerned that some people might take the poem literally.

"Though humorous, there is a violent overtone to the poem. You've got to appreciate this is against a backdrop where we're dealing with bullying in schools," he said.

McLaughlin believes all the books have been handed out by now. He's only heard of one parent in the Annapolis Valley with a concern about the book.

The poem is more than 30 years old and the poet himself says he's had nothing but positive feedback from parents, who actually say the book helps kids with younger 'bratty' brothers understand that they aren't the only ones having these problems.

Lee says he understands that the issue of bullying is a serious one, and can't be taken lightly, but he finds it hard to believe that his poem would in anyway actually promote violence. Since 2000, the Canadian Children's Book Centre and TD have given a free Canadian children’s book to every Grade 1 student in Canada.

About 500,000 children across Canada got Lee's Alligator Stew: Favourite Poems, which features new illustrations by Montreal artist Rogé. A French-language version, translated by Quebec poet Paul Savoie, is also available.

The books were distributed in cooperation with provincial Ministries of Education and local school boards.

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