Nathan Botello A Student's Perspective. Students should have the right to provide their opinion regarding the novels they are required to read. “Do you defend N******, Atticus?” (Lee 85) In the novel “To Kill a Mockingbird”, the author, Harper Lee, uses derogatory terms to show how people of color were treated poorly during times of prejudice. Due to segregation, there was a clear line drawn between blacks and whites. Lee’s novel makes several references to the word “N*****”, which is considered highly inappropriate for all readers. It’s 2024, students should have the choice to decline reading novels that make them feel uncomfortable, given the unknown long-term effects. The novel “To Kill a Mockingbird” is not suitable for 9th graders at …show more content…
“Let’s be clear: “To Kill a Mockingbird” is not a children’s book” (Randall 1). Randall’s quote from “Why Are We Still Teaching “To Kill a Mockingbird” in Schools?” supports why it is inappropriate and should not be considered for 9th grade reading at Belle Chasse High School. “An argument against the book is that students may feel uncomfortable with the topic” this statement was acknowledged in article “Here’s Why We Teach To Kill a Mockingbird” written by Denise Shannon. Being raised properly meant learning that the use of the N word was inappropriate. But then students have to go to school and read a book full of the N-word. Why is it appropriate for school? White and black students feel awkward seeing the N-word on the pages and are forced to be in this uncomfortable situation. Oh, and don’t forget about the poor students who have to skip over the N-word when they read aloud in class. The true question is, why do we continue to force students to read and learn about such a derogatory
Famous author Stephen King said in his book On Writing: a Memoir of the Craft that “ Every book you pick up has its life lessons, and quite often the bad books have more to teach than the good ones” (King 145), but unfortunately not everyone agrees. In today's world, people are becoming more and more easily offended by simple things like the subjects in classic literature, for example To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, and are even trying to ban it in a classroom setting. However, To Kill a Mockingbird should continue to be taught in schools because it positively affects society by changing the way people think about the world, through a very historically accurate setting, and by teaching its readers valuable lessons.
To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee is a heartbreaking, timeless novel that examines stereotyping and its consequences. The novel shadows Atticus Finch, a small-town lawyer, as he defends a black man, Tom Robinson, who is accused of raping a white woman in racist Maycomb, Alabama. Frequently, To Kill a Mockingbird has been banned for use in many schools because of the racial content in it. In the novel, racial tension and slurs are used frequently. Although the novel does contain these things, To Kill a Mockingbird should definitely be taught in schools because it represents accurately what it was like before blacks received their civil right, it teaches valuable life lessons, and it shows how novels like To Kill a Mockingbird helped the civil rights movement.
As the American people’s standards and principles has evolved over time, it’s easy to forget the pain we’ve caused. However, this growth doesn’t excuse the racism and violence that thrived within our young country not even a century previous. This discrimination, based solely on an ideology that one’s race is superior to another, is what put many people of color in miserable places and situations we couldn’t even imagine today. It allowed many Caucasian individuals to inflict pain, through both physical and verbal attacks, and even take away African Americans ' God given rights. In an effort to expose upcoming generations to these mass amounts of prejudice and wrongdoing, Harper Lee 's classic novel, To Kill A Mockingbird, tells the story of
Some people think that harper lee’s to kill a mockingbird should not be taught in schools for example malcolm gladwell a journalist says he wishes that the author had made finch(referring to atticus) a man sufficiently outraged by racial injustice to seek systemic change, rather
What does it mean to be a good parent? The most common definition of a good parent is one who makes their children feel valued and loved, by teaching them the difference between right and wrong. At the end of the day, the most essential thing is to create a nurturing environment where your children feel like they can mature into confident, independent, and caring adults. Harper Lee’s novel To Kill A Mockingbird defines what a true parent really is thought hardships and struggles throughout the book. The story is set in the Depression era of a little town in southern Alabama that is struggling with thick prejudice on a colored rape case. The story is told through a character
In my opinion, I agree that To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee should be taught in schools. It should be taught for a variety of reasons, some in which the article we read covered and some it did not. I think it should be taught in schools because it tells us real life examples of what our history used to be like and the book could also teach all of us a lesson in life. Some points in the article we read that I will be talking about is what the book is about, how it is important for American history, and finally why I disagree with the statement of only adults should be able to read this.
Why should this novel be banned from use in schools? Students should be able to hear these words and talk about them and not use them offensively. Racial content, tension, and slurs are used in people’s everyday lives. If people can use these words outside of school why would they not be allowed to be talked about in school? It is important for everyone to be informed about these racial tensions. This book also shows the reader what is was like to be growing up in this time period. Although this book uses the n-word, it uses it in a historical way. Using these racist words explains the way of thinking of the south in the 1930s. To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee is appropriate to use and read in school.
In the story, To Kill A Mockingbird it uses some inapropriate context such as racial slurs etc. If students were shunned from this book because of things such as this how will they understand the importance of to not use words such as
For example, in Coeur D’Alene, Idaho, the city’s school board challenged the book and voted that the book should stay as a ninth grade school curriculum. It should not be challenged in any state. In our classroom, we have read this book and when we were reading it, nobody seemed to be making any comments about the use of language and racism mentioned. The reason being is that we are mature enough to handle what is in the book.
Many classic books discuss the problems of racism, but have been challenged or banned throughout the years. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee has been banned from numerous schools because it “psychological damage to the positive integration process" and "represents institutionalized racism under the guise of good literature." To Kill a Mockingbird discusses the mistreatment of a black man wrongfully accused of a crime, reflecting real events that have happened in American history. Banning this bo...
“Simply because we were licked a hundred years before we started is no reason for us not to try to win.” The book To Kill A Mockingbird by the author Harper Lee is about a tired little town in Alabama called Maycomb set back in the 1930’s. Atticus, father of Jem and Scout is the same man on the street and at his house. He is very respectful and honest. Atticus gets appointed to defend Tom Robinson, an African American man who was accused by Bob Ewell for raping his daughter, Mayella. Even though there are several pieces of evidence that show Tom is innocent, Atticus knows he will not win, but that is no reason for him not to try. It makes sense for Atticus to defend Tom Robinson because he believes
Jill McCorkle's Ferris Beach, a contemporary novel, shares numerous characteristics with Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird, a novel written in the 1960's. Like To Kill a Mockingbird, McCorkle's novel documents the life of a young girl in a small southern town. The two narrators, Kate Burns and Scout Finch, endure difficult encounters. A study of these main characters reveals the parallels and differences of the two novels. Jill McCorkle duplicates character similarities and rape from Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird to show the reader how young girls think and develop.
Tom Robinson, a black man in To Kill a Mockingbird is one of the main characters in
Scout Finch, the youngest child of Atticus Finch, narrates the story. It is summer and her cousin Dill and brother Jem are her companions and playmates. They play all summer long until Dill has to go back home to Maridian and Scout and her brother start school. The Atticus’ maid, a black woman by the name of Calpurnia, is like a mother to the children. While playing, Scout and Jem discover small trinkets in a knothole in an old oak tree on the Radley property. Summer rolls around again and Dill comes back to visit. A sence of discrimination develops towards the Radley’s because of their race. Scout forms a friendship with her neighbor Miss Maudie, whose house is later burnt down. She tells Scout to respect Boo Radley and treat him like a person. Treasures keep appearing in the knothole until it is filled with cement to prevent decay. As winter comes it snows for the first time in a century. Boo gives scout a blanket and she finally understands her father’s and Miss Maudie’s point of view and treats him respectfully. Scout and Jem receive air guns for Christmas, and promise Atticus never to shoot a mockingbird, for they are peaceful and don’t deserve to die in that manner. Atticus then takes a case defending a black man accused of rape. He knows that such a case will bring trouble for his family but he takes it anyways. This is the sense of courage he tries to instill in his son Jem.
Ladies and Gentlemen, P&C members and Teachers, I would like to utilise this time I have, to present my conscience and my thoughts for whether the book “To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee is appropriate or not for students to study in year 12. I am here to speak on the behalf of the students about why the book should not be banned and the vital role it plays in our lives. Atticus Finch, father of the narrator, Scout Finch says “When a child asks you something, answer him, for goodness’ sake. But don’t make a production of it.” (pg. 97) He said that when a child asks you something, answer him. You do not get any answers by banning the book. To get the answer, you have to explore the book.