Should Students Keep on Reading To Kill a Mockingbird? In the year of 1960, Harper Lee made her debut as an author with the classic, Pulitzer Prize winning book To Kill a Mockingbird. It has been 57 years since the book has been released, and since then the book has been taught and read in schools all over America. However, some people believe that the book is an inappropriate book to teach to students. Although this may be true, there are better reasons to teach the book. With it’s valuable life lessons, an accurate narrative on racial discrimination, and it’s ability to teach readers about the injustice, students should be taught TKAM in school. First and foremost, this book have quotes that are valuable life lessons. For example on page …show more content…
An example of injustice can be found on page 282 when the judge and jury said Tom Robinson was guilty of raping a white woman even though there was clear evidence that he wasn’t of the crime. Not only is this an example of injustice, this is also an example of racism. The reason being that if Tom Robinson was white they probably wouldn’t even care if the fact that he raped somebody was true. Another example is with Arthur “Boo” Radley, he is the outcast deemed as a phantom and a psychopath by the townspeople. Arthur Radley is kept in his own house by his family because of his rebellious teenage life, his family fear that Arthur Radley might ruin their reputation. After being kept into the house too long, the townspeople start gossiping about him and make him out to be a creepy psychopath that peeks into children’s windows. Above all, students should be taught To Kill a Mockingbird in school. Critics may claim otherwise and say that it’s inappropriate because of the language and events, but there are better reasons for students to read and learn about To Kill a Mockingbird. It’s valuable lessons, an accurate narrative on racial discrimination, and it’s lessons on injustice are all the right reasons for students to learn To Kill a Mockingbird. This masterpiece created by Harper Lee shouldn’t go to waste because of a few inappropriate things. Instead, they should consider all the good things and teach the students
Learning from Experience in To Kill a Mockingbird In the novel "To Kill a Mockingbird", Jem and Scout Finch develop their moral conscience and awareness of the reality of the situations they are facing. Atticus's teaching method of "personal experience" instead of being told how to do something is important as they learn various lessons in this process. Jem and Scout learn many lessons in the story but they are mainly based on the concept of prejudice, courage, and misunderstanding. There are many cases of courage shown in the novel. But, the most significant one is the episode on Mrs. Dubose.
To Kill A Mockingbird is an important book that has continued to teach people about race and prejudice for over 50 years. Harper Lee’s message is the harsh reality of how prejudice is built into society and is one of the most important messages of the 20th and 21st centuries. This book teaches us to stand up to prejudice and spread more love. It teaches us to look at things from another person's point of view and to be accepting of those who are different from us. Even to this day we face issues involving prejudice such as police brutality, the achievement gap, homophobia, and equal
Currently in many schools across the country students are reading To Kill A Mockingbird written by Harper Lee. Most teachers believe they are anti racism while also reading a classic. This is not necessarily true. The book has many racial undertones that most don’t bring up. This can lead to students blindly reading and acting like the book is the gospel. It’s trying to teach kids how to be anti racist and when authority figures tell you how to act you usually listen. This book tells you this is the right way to be a ally and you will be praised by all of the poor people who need your help. Because of this To Kill a Mockingbird
The book To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee should be read and taught in school considering the facts that it teaches the important message of learning to stand in other’s shoes, and that the reader can see the wide range of diversity such as socioeconomic status and race. In the real world, we will come across many different people with different backgrounds and views. It is easy to look at those people and think, “they are strange,” or “they don’t understand anything.” I admit, before reading this book I was insensitive to this and didn’t even realize when I looked at people and made those assumptions. This book has helped me be not so judgmental and be able to see from other people’s point of view. While some may say this book shouldn’t be taught because it is “racist” or
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee has been banned and/or challenged over thirty times since its publication in 1960. Effectively preventing many students from enjoying the novel and benefitting from its message. To ignore racism is no different than denying it ever existed. To Kill a Mockingbird is appropriate for mature adolescence/students and should not be banned from schools. Despite its sexual related content, or profanity, a valuable lesson remains that should be taught to students.
Throughout the Novel To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee, Lee shows readers that everyone has a different perspective and how a person’s perspective can change their personal beliefs. Lee wants readers to realize that everyone has a different perspective, and you should never judge a book by its
This book is very true to life even today. We all go about our day with our own preconceived notions on life. The saying, “Don’t judge a book by its cover” is very true when it comes to this book. Many people feel that it has no use for us in today’s society. They feel that due to the racist language it should be banned. An example seen here in an Interview by Mary Dempsey and Muriel Saunders, “"To Kill a Mockingbird," written in 1960 by Harper Lee. High school administrators in Muskogee, Oklahoma, removed that same book from the school's required reading list for freshman because, they say, the novel includes racially derogatory language that could offend African-Americans.” (Dempsey, Saunders). Society wants to hide the fact that the past
Have you ever heard or seen someone being racist to somebody else? Well if you have, you know it’s not right. In the book To Kill a Mockingbird, author Harper Lee uses unforgettable characters to explain civil rights and racism in the Southern United States of the 1930’s. I think schools should teach that book (To Kill a Mockingbird) because I think students will learn how racism hurts people. I believe it is an important book because it also shows its readers good examples of character development. This book also has great characters that students can relate to. I think that schools need to have a requirement to read this book because it shows students the right way to treat people even if they are different and that it is wrong to discriminate against people.
The novel “[Deals] with pathetic loneliness, an accusation of rape, the strangely sexual content of bigotry, a complete failure of justice” (Gerson 2). These are mature topics that can make many uncomfortable. Additionally, teachers say they, “can teach the same lesson with other books,”(Nelson 1). Therefore, they believe if other materials can be used to convey the same learnings without making kids uncomfortable the other materials should be used. However, To Kill A Mockingbird confronts us with our history that can not be changed, and although the novel may make some kids uncomfortable that is not necessarily a bad thing. By being uncomfortable, one is forced to go beyond their comfort zone and forced to think for themselves. If children are shielded from the unfortunate prejudices and inequities of our past, they cannot learn from them, and we are at risk of them being repeated. To Kill A Mockingbird gives insight into American history and the language used during the 1930s, and although this history might make us uncomfortable, it is this uncomfortableness that will help us
In the novel To Kill A Mockingbird a major theme is the loss of innocence. Whether from emotional abuse, racial prejudice or learning, Boo, Tom, and Scout all lose their innocence in one sense or another. The prejudice that each character endures leads to their loss. Through the responses of Boo, Tom, and Scout, Harper Lee shows how each character responded differently to their loss of innocence.
To Kill a Mockingbird should continue being a book taught in school because it teaches you to never attack the innocent. An example would be when Bob Ewell tried to kill Scout and Jem but Boo Radley stabbed Bob Ewell with a kitchen knife before he could do anything to the kids. “Bob Ewell’s lyin’ on the ground under that tree down yonder with a kitchen knife stuck in his ribs, he’s dead Mr. Finch” (Page 357). That quote was from Heck Tate the county sheriff, This quote helps my claim because it shows what
The cult classic book To Kill a Mockingbird is generally considered a stunning work of art, but not in the eyes of all schools. Recently the Biloxi School District has chosen to recall To Kill a Mockingbird from its curriculum because the book includes a bit of inappropriate language. Unfortunately this opinion of the book has been around for decades. Kurt Vonnegut, the author, wrote a letter to respond Drake High School deciding to burn his book. These schools should not ban this time-honored book on the grounds that it’s bad for the students in the long run.
In a world where we can hide behind an electronic veil of email, text message, and Snapchat, there are few things more stressful than an old-fashioned phone call. I remember the first call I had to make to Mr. George Kunkle, member of the Koon’s Memorial Pool Committee, and the man whose permission I needed to begin my Eagle Scout project. I remember pacing up and down the stairs, cell phone in hand with the number dialed, yet I refused to hit the green call button. I rehearsed every word and anticipated his responses. Naturally, my mind went to the worst possible outcomes: his not answering, his asking questions that I could not answer, and his denying me permission to do a project at Koon’s Pool. Then that fateful moment came when I hit the dreaded green dial button, listened to the electronic beeps, and launched into my rehearsed lines. After a short five minute conversation, I had
Courage is the quality of mind that enables one to face danger with confidence, resolution, and gain a firm control of oneself. Many of the characters in To Kill a Mockingbird showed courage in their own way. Courage can come in many different forms: physical, mental, emotional and moral. Courage is not the only main theme displayed in To Kill a Mockingbird; prejudice and education are also very important themes exhibited throughout the progression of the novel. Through the eyes of Scout Finch, a bright, sensitive and intelligent little girl, these themes of the novel are explored in great depth.
Harper Lee uses her novel to teach us important lessons from the characters presented in To Kill a Mockingbird. Atticus, a fair and moral character, whose parenting style is unique, lined with honest and example, teaches us to follow his ways. Scout, an innocent girl who teaches us what’s important in life. Tom Robinson, someone who is ostracized for being African American, can teach us the importance of equal treatment and awakens us to our surrounding society. Lee’s construction of characters gives us perspective to issues in our society today, how they still matter and what we can learn from the novel such as compassion, justice and understanding.