Private school considers banning works of Shakespeare
A private Western Australian school is considering banning the works of some famous authors, including William Shakespeare, over concerns the content is too explicit.
Principal of Busselton's Georgiana Molloy Anglican School, Ted Kosicki, has written to parents saying he found the material abhorrent and unsuitable for year 11 and 12 students.
Mr Kosicki has been principal at Georgiana Malloy Anglican School for six years and its deputy before that.
He makes no apology for his decision to review and remove any offensive material from the school's reading list after complaints from some parents.
"We have a duty of care to our community that we respond to a complaint when one is raised," Mr Kosicki said.
In an email to the school's year 11 and 12 parents and students on Friday Mr Kosicki says "vulgar language, explicit sexual innuendo and the deprivation of woman are being given to our students via various mediums".
And he found the curriculum "uncensored and crowded with inappropriate material".
The schools entire reading list is being reviewed.
Parents and teachers have told Seven News that books which could be removed include Shakespear's Romeo and Juliet, Tim Winton's Cloudstreet, Jasper Jones by Craig Silvey and The Boat by Nam Le which won the Prime Minister's Literary Award for Fiction in 2009.
"I've read them, fantastic," Mr Kosicki said.
"I shouldn't have any recourse to ban works. If they don't fit within out ethos irrespective of author or work, I wouldn't show them if they are not age appropriate or read them if they were not age appropriate."
Not surprisingly Mr Kosicki hasn't pleased many of the students' parents.
Some are concerned that the policy is a form of literary censorship, while others are worried that they've spent money on books their children will no longer need.
"I think parents are very supportive of the school when complaints or issues are raised, then we do actually review and make sure we are looking at appropriate material for our students."
In a statement WA Education Minister Sue Ellery said there are no compulsory texts in the state curriculum.
"Schools can select those books from the list that suit their students, teachers and school community," Ms Ellery said.
