N.S. removes short story containing N-word from online high school course

< warm>Warning: This story includes repeated mentions of the N-word.

The fact that Ernest ernest hemingway’s 1927 unawares story The Killers — which contains the N-word 12 times — was offered as an main(a) reading option has ignited anger and disbelief from some members of the Black community, who question whether provincial guidance for the selection and teaching of sensitive material was followed.

“I had a visceral reaction to learning that yet again, there is a text that is still being used in the Nova Scotia school system that includes the N-word and includes it so profusely through the text,” said Késa Munroe-Anderson, an associate professor at Acadia University’s education department in Wolfville, N.S.

“Quite frankly, I'm tired of having this conversation because it should be unnecessary in 2026.”

English Language Arts 12 is part of the Nova Scotia Independent Online Learning program, which allows students to complete high school courses online at their own pace, without direct instruction from a teacher.

Set in a restaurant in Illinois in the 1920s, The Killers follows character Nick Adams as he has a run-in with a pair of hitmen who are seeking to kill a boxer.

The restaurant’s cook, Sam, is referred to by “n----r” a dozen times by characters in the story and also by the narrator.

It’s unclear whether the Education Department’s guidance on assessing controversial books was followed, how long the story was on the curriculum, or who in authority read it before it was listed, as the provincial government refused to answer questions about the situation.

Education Minister Brendan Maguire also declined an interview request.

In an email, spokesperson Krista Higdon said the province has a process to guide how resources are brought into classrooms.

Higdon said consultants with expertise in specific disciplines review the material “to ensure it is aligned with curriculum outcomes, reflect current research and best practices, supports student learning in a developmentally appropriate way and has passed a bias evaluation.”

There are resources that have been approved for use in Nova Scotia classrooms that contain limited use of the N-word, including the Autobiography of Malcolm X, written by Alex Haley and Malcolm X, which is an authorized learning resource for English 10 Plus.

‘Frustration and anger’: Story containing N-word removed from N.S. High school course

According to the province’s guidance on teaching sensitive subject matter, there are a number of steps an educator should follow when introducing a sensitive resource. These steps include reviewing the material, preparing students for the topic ahead of time and discussing with them how people respond to sensitive subject matter in different ways. 

The document goes on to discuss how educators should approach teaching the material — setting clear expectations for how discussions should be conducted, providing context and background information related to the topic and introducing multiple viewpoints.

The document said teaching sensitive subjects is “a crucial aspect of our collective responsibility as educators to our students and society as a whole.”

“By addressing complex societal issues in the classroom, we foster a deeper understanding of the world, encourage critical thinking, and promote empathy among students,” it said.

Nova Scotia also has a bias evaluation instrument to help educators determine if a resource aligns with curriculum and reflects “the fair and equitable society we are trying to achieve in Nova Scotia.” 

There is also an education tool — Know the Signals — that can be used for selecting resources that “value Black students’ lives.”

The department refused to say whether any of that guidance was followed for The Killers.

Martin Morrison, a former high school principal who also worked for the Education Department as an African Nova Scotian corporate strategist, said it doesn’t appear the processes were followed in this case.

Morrison said the bias evaluation instrument helps ensure there is rationale for using the text. He said failure to abide by the guidance that’s in place widens the distrust of Black students.

“There's a level of frustration and anger and confusion with respect to how to negotiate myself in an environment that I'm compelled to be in, in the school system that doesn't fully understand and recognize what they need to do to support me,” Morrison said in a recent interview.

“I think educators specifically need to start from a place of recognizing that there's institutional systemic racism that exists.”

Munroe-Anderson said the N-word perpetuates the dehumanization of Black people, and it has no place in Nova Scotia classrooms.

“We've heard the saying, ‘Sticks and stones may break our bones, but words will never harm us.’ That is so far from the truth. The word, the use of the N-word, is harmful. It causes trauma,” she said.

“It shouldn't take a Black person to read that text and say, ‘This is unacceptable.’”

Dennis Adams, a social worker and executive director of the non-profit LOVE Nova Scotia, described the N-word as “the most derogatory word I've ever heard in my existence.”

“I'm disgusted when I see that word,” he said.

Adams said growing up playing sports, the racist term was hurled at him numerous times. He saw it as his competitors trying to get under his skin and take away from his successes, but it still had an impact.

He wondered why the short story was included in the module: “Is this something that is necessary in this very, very difficult world today for young people?

“It's used in such a way where it's objectifying this individual. There's a second-class citizen citizenship effect to me.”

Adams said regardless of how or why the story was introduced to the English 12 module, he hopes shedding light on the situation sparks conversation about which sensitive texts are appropriate for classrooms.

“I think the world is in the most difficult stage that's ever been,” said Adams. “We have to do a better job than we're doing right now with young people.”

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Reporter/Editor

Aly Thomson is an award-winning journalist based in Halifax who loves helping the people of her home province tell their stories. She is particularly interested in issues surrounding women's health, justice, education and the entertainment industry. You can email her with tips and feedback at aly.thomson@cbc.ca.

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