Quote Originally Posted by Subotan View Post
I think this kind of editing is appropriate for use in schools - imagine being the only black kid in your class which was reading Huck Finn and coming across that word over 250 times during the book. Editing such as this allows children and young people to be educated about Twain whilst not feeling uncomfortable.

Of course, it goes without saying that ordinary versions for sale in shops to be read by private individuals should remain completely unchanged.

Hyperbole much? Few things grate on me as much as the use of 1984 to protest against teeny weeny insignificant issues like this, or speed cameras or whatever. Orwell's Oceania was the perfect expression of the sheer malevolence of the totalitarian state, and should never ever be used to describe nothing else other that, except maybe the perfect cup of tea.

To be honest I couldn't disagree more with the idea of editing such texts for use in schools. A text such as Huck Finn isn't read in schools just for the sake of reading, it is there to be studied, to be analysed, to be explained, to be contextualised and to be used as a springboard to the study of associated topics. Leave it alone, warts and all.