Purging George Orwell's books misses what drives the political right
British exam boards are removing George Orwell's classic novels from syllabi, citing inclusivity and concerns over the author's personal history. Critics argue this trend reflects an anachronistic application of modern moral standards to historical literature, potentially hindering students' understanding of political dynamics.
Why it matters
This highlights the ongoing 'culture war' in education regarding how historical texts should be handled in the context of modern identity politics.
A British exam board has removed Orwell's books from its examinations in the name of inclusivity and diversity. But Sisa San Sebastián Hurtig argues such political correctness has the opposite effect. Preventing children from reading Orwell hinders their understanding of political dynamics, particularly the way that class insecurity is driving the rise of the political right
From September this year, British exam board Cambridge OCR will be removing Down and Out in Paris and London , the debut novel from George Orwell (1903–1950), from its exam syllabus. The book explores poverty, inequality and social exclusion in the two capitals. Its removal reflects a broader educational trend shaped by identity politics and debates surrounding 'wokeness'. Its removal follows the dropping in 2024 of classic American novels Of Mice and Men and To Kill a Mockingbird from the GCSE curriculum in Wales, amid concerns about racism.
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