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Reasons to ban to kill a mockingbird
Why shouldn't to kill a mockingbird be banned in high school
Racial themes to kill a mockingbird
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To Kill a Mockingbird is a prizewinning novel. Yet, many argue that this book is suffused with profane themes that promote white supremacy. A school in Mississippi removed the book from their curriculum because it confronts issues of race. Is it worth violating the Constitution for a book that exposes students to a greater view? A view to themes of racism and rape, which is still occurring in the modern society. I strongly believe that the banning of this book is a huge loss for the future generation of these young readers. Mississippi placing 49th among the 50 states for quality of education can be put into consideration that the banning of the book is questionable. Why do schools with higher academic achievements not ban this book? Parents perceive censoring as protection, but by doing so we are posing a threat to freedom of choice. Supporting the idea of parents making decisions on behalf of their children, forcefully shaping the child’s way of thinking, ending up marginalizing the lives of young readers. More importantly, this straightforward candor does not undermine young people but provides an opportunity for them to absorb and face contemporary societies that help reveal sexual issues and more. …show more content…
Such as this quote, "You aren't really a nigger-lover, then, are you?" This highlights the derogatory terms used at that time and the lesson teaching how the use of this hateful slur helps us understand more about the people who uses this than the person receiving them. This is a great life lesson taught through this “controversial” book. The act of banning this book defeats the whole purpose, leaving us vulnerable to repeat the same mistake as our ancestors. We are not justifying the right and the wrongs of our past history, it is just that we don’t want to repeat the same mistakes. As Karl Marx said, “History repeats itself, first as tragedy, second as
This controversial book has been challenged in countless states for many years. In 1997 the Elgin, Illinois school district banned the book from middle school libraries. Catherine explained that the book was banned because “talk of masturbation, birth control, and disobedience to parents occurred”
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.
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
To Kill a Mockingbird is a novel written by Harper lee in 1960. The novel tells the story of Atticus Finch, a white lawyer, and Tom Robinson, a black servant, accused of raping a white female. Finch defends Robinson in court arguing lack of evidence as his main point. However, the judge and jury still believe the woman’s testimony and orders Robinson to be killed. The novel has been praised for its outstanding literature since its publication. However, it remains a banned book by the American Library Association for its use of racial slurs and profanity. Due to it being banned, many high schools have reconsidered the notion of teaching it to their students. Two prominent authors wrote articles pertaining to this piece of literature: Angela Shaw-Thornburg wrote an article on her re-reading of the novel and her opinions on it; while Malcom Gladwell wrote an article comparing Atticus Finch to a state governor liberalist, James Folsom, and the restraints of liberalism in the south. In addition, Rebecca Best contributes her thought on how the novel should be taught by introducing the idea of “the other.” Regardless of the modern day political arguments surrounding this piece of literature, this novel contains a large insight into the time period of the 1960s which is an influential topic that should be taught to young high school students.
Banning a book on the basis of profanity is merely a superficial reason of those who wish to limit beliefs that do not coincide with their own. By excluding a novel from a high school curriculum in order to shelter students from profanity, is an attempt to do the impossible. Profanity is found everywhere. According to TV Guide, "Profanity is uttered once every six minutes on American primetime television...
Although this book uses offensive words, it is such an important part of this time period. Some adults may not want their kids reading these stories in school because they can repeat the words and use them offensively. People could also feel that this book isn’t appropriate because it was written so long ago and uses old-fashioned phrases that don't teach students proper English. People will always have their own opinions.
An important reason why To Kill a Mockingbird is relevant today is the ever growing resurgence of racism throughout the country. Events such as the ones in Jena, Louisiana, seem to become more common each day. Recently, a black professor at Columbia University had a noose placed on her door. The novel, which was an attempt to spread knowledge of the racism in the south, was trying to stop the very things that happen everyday now. As racism becomes more and more prevalent, this novel will be a good tool to help teach the next generation about racism, and about how it is wrong.
Think of it like this, a book is like a piece of art, without certain details how will the art be portrayed? If the author did not include things such as racial slurs how will you be able to understand important parts of the book such as when the character Dill was crying during the court case on page 226. A specific piece of evidence showing this detail would be when Dill said: “I know all that Scout. It was the way he said it made me sick, plain sick.” From using details explained above you are able to fully understand why this character would have felt that certain way. Also included in the article To Kill A Mockingbird removed from Virginia schools for racist language It states in the text that, “ The NCAC slammed the action in a post on its Kids Right To Read website, writing: “By avoiding discussion of controversial issues such as racism, schools do a great disservice to their students.” This is able to prove my point that it would be depriving the students of learning about our history of racism not to allow them to read this
Trelease, Jim. "Book Banning Violates Children and Young Adult Freedoms." Book Banning. Ed. Ronnie D. Lankford. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2007. At Issue. Rpt. from "Censorship and Children's Books." Trelease-on-Reading.com. 2006.Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 31 Mar. 2014.
Even though extraordinary changes have been made in the past to achieve racial equality, America is still racist, especially in schools. In the novel, “To Kill a Mockingbird,” written by Harper Lee, Atticus Finch is criticized for defending a black man accused of raping a white woman. During the 1930s, the time this novel took place, America was a very segregated country. At the time when Harper Lee wrote "To Kill a Mockingbird," America was fighting a civil rights movement. The events of racism in “To Kill a Mockingbird” reflect the time period.
The children are the real losers because they are the ones that are not able to read the classic works of literature, which are the backbone of classroom discussions all across the United States. The American Association of School Administrators (AASA) defines censorship as: “The removal, suppression, or restricted circulation of literary, artistic, or educational materials. of images, ideas, and information.on the grounds that these are morally or otherwise objectionable in light of standards applied by the censor” (Miner 1998). In schools there are three types of censorship, one type is a “parent” who doesn’t want their child to read a particular book. Another is a parent, teacher, administrator, or school board member who argues that no one in the class, or school, should read the book in dispute.
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee has been challenged/banned countless times since it’s original publication in 1960. The reasoning people could have behind banning it is that they feel that the racism, language and subject matter in the book is offensive, inappropriate, immoral and that it encourages and condones such things. To Kill a Mockingbird takes place in Maycomb, a small town in Alabama, during the depression from 1935-1937, and is told from the perspective of a little girl named Scout. In the book Scout’s father Atticus teaches her and her brother Jem many valuable lessons. The things Atticus teaches Scout and Jem are things we all need to know. To Kill a Mockingbird is an inspirational book that teaches valuable moral values, and should not be banned.
It is a book that my child may never be able to read. It seems that the only logical reasoning to aid in what offends people is to completely eliminate the book from the library. A better approach is to understand that this book may help them examine other beliefs, attitudes, values, and traditions and to accept, tolerate, or even reject these ideas without prejudices against people who hold particular views. In the democracy In which we live, where regularly all ideas are debatable. A wide range on all points of view should be available to the public.
To Kill a Mockingbird is a classic tale of a young girl named Jean Louise Finch, or Scout, growing up in the 1930’s during the great depression. The book is famously known for its controversial topics including, racism, sexism, and inappropriate language, causing the book to be banned in several places. The topic is up for debate, if teachers and parents should let students read the book. After reading the text, I have concluded that To Kill a Mockingbird should be read by every student in the tenth grade. The book has many controversial and touchy topics that should be brought to the attention of the student.
“I think it is obscene that [a] school board doesn’t trust [adolescents] enough to know that [they] can read harsh stories, told in their native tongue, make decisions for [themselves]” (Crutcher). In To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, the story takes place in a time where prejudice was prominent, and the actions of people throughout To Kill a Mockingbird reflect of the time period. The vulgar language used throughout To Kill a Mockingbird tells the true story of what took place throughout this time of prejudice against African Americans. For students who might not have originally understood how the language used throughout To Kill a Mockingbird was offensive, reading this book can truly help them understand the weight that these words have. “Adolescence is an extremely important time in any human's development.