Words Linked To Christianity, British History Dropped From Kids' Dictionary

DEC. 08, 2008, 09.30 Hrs (ANI):

Words linked to Christianity, the monarchy and British history have been taken out from a leading dictionary for kids.

Oxford University Press has dropped words like aisle, bishop, chapel, empire and monarch from its Junior Dictionary.

They have been replaced with words like blog, broadband and celebrity. Dozens of words related to the countryside have also been culled.

The publisher claims the changes have been made to show the fact that Britain is a modern, multicultural, multifaith society.

However, academics and head teachers said that the changes to the 10,000 word Junior Dictionary could mean that children lose touch with Britain's heritage.

We have a certain Christian narrative which has given meaning to us over the last 2,000 years. To say it is all relative and replaceable is questionable, the Telegraph quoted Professor Alan Smithers, the director of the centre for education and employment at Buckingham University, as saying.

The word selections are a very interesting reflection of the way childhood is going, moving away from our spiritual background and the natural world and towards the world that information technology creates for us, Smithers added.