In 2020, the Orwell Foundation awarded its book award in political writing to Some children I taught and what they taught me by former teacher Kate Clanchy. According to the judges, "Clanchy's reflections on teaching and the stories of his students are moving, funny, full of love and offer a brilliant insight into modern British society."
On Tuesday, the foundation thought better of it. With the book facing criticism from seemingly degrading descriptions of minority, immigrant, and autistic students, the foundation issued a statement acknowledging "concerns and pain" about the book and distancing himself from the "individual decisions of the judging panel."
The Orwell Foundation's statement was not the worst response to the controversy, which sparked a torrent of online abuse. The author herself issued a humiliating sorry before tweeting that "I'm not a good person ... You are right to blame me, and I blame myself." He announced that he will rewrite future editions of the book to avoid offense. The publisher of the book also declared himself "deeply" sorry for the episode.
While its actual content is less egregious than those comments, the foundation's response is symbolically more damaging. Orwell is best remembered as the creator of a dystopia in which totalitarian ideology, widespread surveillance, and constant editing of the past to meet the political requirements of the present make individuality impossible. By refusing to defend the book it once honored and the judges who selected it, the Orwell Foundation is confirming the fears of its namesake.
You may also like
Israel's Olympic hero can't get married, but that may change soon
How Sociology Shows That 'Policymakers Have Been Looking Bad At Rejection Of Vaccines'
2020 census data shows that the U.S. population is more diverse and urban
