Banning Cassell's

[hpst@earthlink.net]

Ben,

I am absolutely certain :-) that I never heard or used any dirty word in my
youth until I learned that it existed in a dictionary.

There was one dirty which I was warned never to use,

It was "evolution" and I was told that if I ever thought about using it my
soul would be condemned to everlasting torment.

Page Stephens

> [Original Message]
> From: Benjamin Zimmer <bgzimmer at BABEL.LING.UPENN.EDU>
> To: <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
> Date: 6/23/2006 10:01:33 AM
> Subject: [ADS-L] Banning Cassell's
>
> In Wake County, NC, a local Christian activist group and some parents
> have challenged the school district's use of five books -- including
> Cassell's Dictionary of Slang.
>
> http://www.newsobserver.com/167/story/452984.html
> http://abclocal.go.com/wtvd/story?section=local&id=4292888
>
> The news has traveled back to the UK:
>
> http://education.guardian.co.uk/schoolsworldwide/story/0,,1804521,00.html
>
> But I think the Guardian errs in saying that the school district has
> "banned" Cassell's, since at this point it has only been challenged.
> Seems like a ban might be forthcoming, though.
>
> In any case, it's pretty good publicity for the revised edition, eh
Jonathon?
>
>
> --Ben Zimmer
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------
> The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org

------------------------------------------------------------
The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org