Is Shakespeare still censored in school?

Question

I brought this up in an answer a short time ago, and I am curious to see if this is still the case. When I was in high school 30 years ago, we were made to read an edited version of "Romeo and Juliet". It seems that some of the dialogue, especially between the two Capulet guards Sampson and Gregory in the first scene, was too racy for our young, impressionable minds, such as this exchange:

Sampson: True; and therefore women, being the weaker vessels, are ever thrust to the wall: therefore I will push Montague's men from the wall and thrust his maids to the wall.

Gregory: The quarrel is between our masters, and us their men.

Sampson: 'Tis all one, and I will show myself a tyrant: when I have fought with the men I will be cruel with the maids, and cut off their heads.

Gregory: The heads of the maids?

Sampson: Ay, the heads of the maids, or their maidenheads; take it in what sense thou wilt.

I guess they were afraid lines like that would give us naughty ideas. So are these lines and others like them still excised from school texts today?

Fish · Accepted Answer

It better not be. Shakespeare is classic!
 It was intact when I read it for school last year; I assume that a great deal of modern readers who read it without some sort of guide or footnotes won't get this part in its entirety.

RedStar · Answer

Err, I don't think Shakespeare has EVER been censored in schools here in the UK. No classics are.

My parents went to school in the 1950s, and I know there was no censorship of Shakespeare then because I've discussed Shakespeare with them and they both remember laughing at the bawdy scenes.

old lady · Answer

Sheesh! Can't imagine anyone censoring Shakespeare the basis of that exchange - especially given what is included today in songs and stories! Shakespeare was just playing with words - as was his wont.

Anonymous · Answer

Shakespeare does not usually show up on the ALA's list of "Most Challenged Books."  I've always thought that if anyone were going to censor Romeo and Juliet, it would be because they are worried about encouraging teenage suicide.  But you must have gone to a really repressive school.

katrina · Answer

Nope, we read that part in 9th grade. We even discussed that scene a little bit.

Anonymous · Answer

i was in high school 20 years ago, and they even showed us a movie version , which showed bare breasts!!!  I thought it was cool, of course.

€€ · Answer

no... we read romeo and juilet last year and that part was in it.

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Is Shakespeare still censored in school?

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