UK mother wants Sleeping Beauty removed from school

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It's one of the most popular fairy tales told by parents to generations of children. Now a call has been made by a British mom for the book Sleeping Beauty to be banned from lessons in junior school.

Sarah Hall said the timeless tale, in which an unconscious princess is kissed by a prince to wake her from a curse, features an inappropriate sexual message.

The 40-year-old mom from Newcastle in northeast England has contacted the school attended by her six-year-old son Ben to request that the book be removed from his class.

The mom contends the fairy tale teaches children it's OK to kiss a woman while she's asleep.

A scene from film "Sleeping Beauty". /Photo via Twitter‍

Her call comes in the wake of the Hollywood sexual harassment scandals that has had an explosive impact on British politics. Reader polls published by newspapers suggest, however, that most parents see the magical story as harmless.

Hall, a mother of two, acknowledged that she was prompted to take action by the Hollywood controversy. "I think it's a specific issue in the Sleeping Beauty story about sexual behavior and consent," she told her local newspaper, the Newcastle Chronicle. "It's about saying, 'Is this still relevant? Is it appropriate?'

"In today's society, it isn't appropriate. My son is only six, he absorbs everything he sees."

Harvey Weinstein, Kevin Spacey and Brett Ratner, Hollywood stars accused of sexual harassment. /Reuters Photo

She said her call for the book to be banned only refers to younger kids, saying the tale could be a great resource for older children to encourage discussions on consent and "how the Princess might feel."

The issue has fueled a war of words and controversy on social media sites across Britain as the centuries-old fairy story is dragged into an issue that has engulfed the worlds of entertainment and politics. Thousands of parents have had their say on the issue.

Most are outraged by the attack of a story that had generated a popular Disney movie, stage musicals and festive pantomimes. Some parents, though, say Hall has raised a serious issue.

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Source(s): Xinhua News Agency