The book To Kill a Mockingbird has been fought over for many years. Many people think it should be banned for its language and storyline, which in fact does not make sense at all because those themes exist in real life as well, and we can’t erase them from history. It has many important values imbedded in the story for us to learn, as well as a lot to teach us about our history. This 1960’s novel is a classic with what was a controversial plot at the time. To Kill a Mockingbird is a great novel and should not be banned from schools. The ones who believe this novel should be banned say it is because of the use of the n-word and the overall racism towards African Americans. Obviously they don’t understand the meaning of the story though, because the whole novel is denouncing racism and prejudice. Even the main characters, such as Atticus, are angered over others failure to think of everyone as equals. The story is showing just one of the ways prejudice can stop people from making the right decision. Even though some might argue that it’s showing African Americans in a bad light, the author is actually silently mocking the characters who believe whites to be better blacks. To Kill a Mockingbird is certainly a book for more mature readers; Elementary or lower Middle School students won’t be able to understand the themes. There is no reason why higher classes can’t handle the novel, odds are most of them have heard or seen worse than that. If they are
Because of offensive language and ideas that are represented in the book, To Kill A Mockingbird, it has been banned in many school libraries and lessons. One of the main reasons that it was banned in school is because of offensive words like the n-word and also because of the fact that the plot is centered around rape. One of the school board members, Kenny Holloway, said, “We can teach the same lessons with other books.” Many people agree with Holloway’s opinion, saying that the same ideas that are represented in To Kill A Mockingbird could be taught with a less controversial book. However, other people say that students are tough enough to handle the story. While many people don’t think that this book is appropriate for school, some people
Although there is a lot of foul language in To Kill a Mockingbird readers are not encouraged to use that kind of language.
There has been much controversy over whether or not the novel To Kill a Mockingbird should be banned or not. This novel teaches students about the racism and prejudice of the 1930’s resulting in why the world is the way it is, as well as many important life lessons, therefore it should be continued to be taught in schools. The novel To Kill a Mockingbird should not be banned because it teaches about life in the past and why the world is the way it is now, proving that this novel has the ability to effectively educate kids about the past and potential impact of human behaviour.
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
The second reason why To Kill a Mockingbird shouldn't be banned is because it tells a
First, To Kill a Mockingbird should not be banned because it needs to teach kids how the
Growing up is a maze with many twists and turns. In Harper Lee's novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, Jean Louise "Scout" Finch experiences many difficult situations as part of her coming of age. As Scout grows up in the rural Maycomb, Alabama, during the Great Depression, she faces problems with self-identity, racism, and her community. Harper Lee writes in a subtle yet impactful way about how Scout goes through this confusing stage, making her book a classic that every student should read. Recently To Kill a Mockingbird has been a controversial topic because a “school district in Mississippi announced that it was pulling the Pulitzer Prize-winning classic from its 8th-grade reading list” (Oprea 1). The school district worried that the book was uncomfortable for kids because of its use of explicit language. The school board stated that other books can convey the same lessons in more age-appropriate ways. The question is can these books convey the same lessons without using the language so vital in communicating the historical context of the novel. To Kill a Mockingbird is an important book that should not be banned in schools because it
In this essay I will be describing and telling you whether or not To Kill A Mockingbird should or shouldn't be taught in the 9th grade. To Kill A Mockingbird is a very good and intellectual book to read. It is a winner of the pulitzer prize and a wonderful book it talks about this family(Atticus, Scout, and Jem) back in the day when black people didn't have many right and privileges. They live in a little town called birmingham Alabama, the kids father is a lawyer and is defending a black guy(Tom Robinson) that got accused of Rape. The reason for the father (Atticus)defending this man is because he knows that Tom Robinson didn’t rape this girl. Overall this book shows how you should act toward someone if you know they are not guilty even if they are black(Everyone Is Equal). So in my opinion this book should be taught in the 9th grade because it shows how white people acted toward blacks back in the day.
school and college students. For instance, in the article “The Ironic, Enduring Legacy of Banning ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ for Racist Language” Avi Selk mentions the schools and the school boards who recently attempted to ban “To Kill A Mockingbird” and most of them are middle and elementary schools. The book was perceived as offensive because of the language within it’s pages. The schools and parents failed to receive “To Kill A Mockingbird”’s message and instead focused on only part of what was said instead of why. Selk said “It was not images of race, but of sex, that caused the first big uproar. The school board of Hanover County, Va., banned the book as “immoral literature” in 1966 because the plot centered on rape.” If that’s the case, why allow middle schoolers and elementary kids read the book? This is why “Mockingbird” should be reserved for high school and college students. The book is centered on a loaded plot and does indeed use some explicit language but that doesn’t mean that that qualifies the book to be banned. There’s quotes directly from the book that demonstrate just why Harper Lee used the language she did and it reads like this, “What exactly is a n—– lover?” Scout asks her father. “It’s hard to explain.” “Ignorant, trashy people use it when they think somebody’s favoring Negroes over and above themselves,” he tells Scout. “It’s slipped into usage with some people like ourselves, when they want a common, ugly term to label somebody.” (To Kill A Mockingbird, Lee) The text directly from the book is a perfect example to show that the use of the “N-word” wasn’t used to promote the word but to shame it and the use of it back in 1960, in Alabama, in which the book was set upon. Allow the students who can fully understand and not take offense to “To Kill A
First, To Kill A Mockingbird should not be banned in public schools because people need
The characters in, To Kill a Mockingbird, a novel by Harper Lee, often use prejudice against people of controversial issues. Many of the townspeople of Maycomb use prejudice on the families who are on the less wealthy end of the spectrum. Issues are still displayed because of the racial prejudice used against African Americans and those of other races. Lastly, gender is a clear issue in Maycomb because of women’s and girl’s rights and lack of respect towards them because they are female. All of the types of prejudice show that Maycomb has many problems all throughout the town between other families and townspeople.
In addition, reading this novel hopefully invokes in people a sense of shame for the mistakes of our ancestors. Though the novel’s language may offend some, it is Africans Americans and Caucasians alike who are offended. Nobody likes to look at the word "nigger" nor hear it used, however, we must accept that this word was at one time considered appropriate language. Reading the novel, I was repulsed by this word and my stomach churned as I read about the ignorance and hate stored within the hearts of characters. However, I enjoyed reading this novel and gained a new perspective of life prior to the Civil War. I think that when schools ban the novel Huck Finn from their curriculum that they are in effect failing their students. Huck Finn is an excellent piece of literature, rich with history, description, and unique perspectives. By not allowing
To kill a Mockingbird must be taught in high schools so teenagers are exposed to important themes and ideas like racial injustices and parenting roles that are still relevant today.
In 1960 To Kill a Mockingbird was published by Harper Lee, leading to a revolution of change that would forever alter America in our classrooms, our homes, and our government. The novel would hold infamy for generations. The novel sets in the 1940 time period, and deals with heavy themes of racism, and includes slurs and foul language. This novel did win the Pulitzer prize despite it being shunned as distasteful and offensive. I feel that the taboo that surrounds this book only gives it more power in the sense that more people were exposed to it.
How bad is the novel “To Kill a Mockingbird”?So many people are having the controversy whether or not it should be required to read the novel in school but first you need to understand what the novel was about.In the novel “To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee talks about the younger years of Jean Louise a girl who lives in Maycomb County.A county quite small but full of surprises and very unique people who have their own story that we get to see every here and there.To Kill a Mockingbird shows such important messages that can really influence not just teens but also adults.