The book To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee is taught in schools all across the United States and parents are trying to stop schools from including the book in its curriculum. The parents believe or assume that the book is too harsh and cruel for their student to be reading. To Kill a Mockingbird talks about topics like racism and rape, it also uses derogatory words. They assume that students my age, 14, can’t handle books like this. Students can take a lot away from this book though and it teaches them many great lessons about the world. To Kill a Mockingbird should be taught in schools because it shows the importance of your words and teaches you about the human race, all their flaws and their goodness as well.
One reason To Kill a Mockingbird
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In the 1920s and 30s, many people were narrow minded and held a lot of prejudice within themselves. Harper Lee does an amazing job of illustrating the citizens with closed off perspectives, but she is also able to show the good within almost every character. Along with that, she shows us how some of the citizens have grown out of that mindset to a more widened one. She is able to write about Atticus’s open and tolerant mind trying to teach Scout, and Jem, to be more understanding. Atticus tells Scout that “‘you never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view… until you climb into his skin and walk around in it’” (Lee 33). This quote from Atticus tells us that you can’t understand a person unless you try to see things from their point of view. He is teaching Scout that she shouldn’t judge someone based on her first impression and what she sees. He is telling her that there will always be more to somebody, that you can’t realize unless you think about things from their perspective. This is important because it tells us that there is always a reason behind everyone’s madness and actions. A ted …show more content…
The book addresses racism, it has mentions of rape, and it uses hurtful, derogatory words. They also imagine that their children will start doing offensive things because they will have learned that it is acceptable. However, it is good that the book is so brutally honest because it shows the truth about the history of the world and the United States. Teaching students the truth, teaches them not to make those mistakes in the future. The book will educate them to not do hurtful actions or say hateful words. It teaches the students the power that their actions and words have. Mayella Ewell accuses Tom Robinson of attacking her, “‘chunk[ing] [her] on the floor an’ chok[ing] [her]’n [taking] advantage of [her]’” (Lee 205). This scene shows us that Mayella accuses Tom Robinson of raping her. We later find out that she was forced to accuse Tom by her father. This shows the power of her words because she is white and he is black, which is an advantage because back then black people were looked down upon. It was her words against his, which was almost always going to favor her, and since rape is such a heavy accusation, he was most likely never going to win. Her words were powerful because she was white, so his life was in her hands, and she could have saved him but she chose to lie and ultimately he had to suffer from her words. This
It has very complex and touchy subjects in the story for example the book talks about rape and racism. It's not always easy for teachers to talk about it in schools because of the language used in the text. For some students the words used and actions said in the book are hard to hear and can make them uncomfortable. The book also does not explain the n-word is a derogatory word. How black characters are shown in the book is hurtful to black students' image of themselves and they can feel if it's pointed towards them.
“You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view… until you climb into his skin and walk around in it.” (Lee 39). Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird follows Scout Finch’s childhood as she grows up in a rural Alabama county during the 1930’s. She and her brother Jem have many adventures in their youth and are raised by their single father Atticus. As they grow up they start to learn the importance of empathy especially when dealing with the racial prejudice that many people around them have.
Various books have been censored within the American education system due to their controversial subjects or the use of profane language, examples of this could include “To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee being banned in certain school districts [Pen America]. Many people see this book as being a significant portrayal of how growing up and understanding other points of view can benefit one and make them into a better person later in life, which is an important life lesson this book teaches despite its language and controversy. To Kill a Mockingbird not only considers racial issues, but also gender norms and the importance of getting to know someone, so why ban the book? Lisa Fink who authored an article for the National Council of Teachers of English argues that we should stop acting as though To Kill a Mockingbird is progressive regarding racial indifferences, she states “...the messages about race and the status quo are so very outdated.” (Fink) when that could not be further from the truth.
“‘You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view--until you climb into his skin and walk around in it.’” (Lee 39). This shows that Atticus wants Scout to not judge anybody by how they seem on the outside. In chapter 20, Atticus describes to the Jury that not all black people are the same. “You know the truth, and the truth is this: some Negroes lie, some Negroes are immoral, some Negro men are not to be trusted around women- black or white.
The book has been used in school curricula since its release date, and has won the Pulitzer prize. Books with such fame as this are often thrown into the spotlight, picked apart, and criticized no matter their content. To Kill a Mockingbird, however, contains large amounts of potentially offensive and inappropriate information, making it one of the most controversial books ever to be discussed. Of course, the book deals with many important life lessons as well. A story of coming of age, the book helps to bring young readers to a better understanding of themselves.
Some people argue that the book contains offensive language and themes that are inappropriate for young readers, while others believe that it is a powerful and important work of literature that should be taught in schools. This essay takes the stance that To Kill a Mockingbird should not be
Should To Kill A Mockingbird Be Taught In Schools? "Shoot all the bluejays you want, if you can hit 'em, but remember it's a sin to kill a mockingbird"(Lee 90). This quote from Harper Lee's To Kill A Mockingbird may seem familiar because most high school students read To Kill A Mockingbird in the ninth grade. This quote emphasizes the idea that it is sinful to harm anything so pure and beautiful regardless of its look.
We should not remove Harper Lee's "To Kill a Mockingbird" from the school curriculum. It serves as a necessary reminder of racial injustices. Set in the 1930s. It was written in the 1950s and published in the 1960s. Lee’s novel explores a historical period of racial injustices.
Being able to completely understand and follow the different language in To Kill a Mockingbird is one thing, but to decide whether or not it’s still relevant is another thing. Well this book still is relevant and yes some may say that this book is history and we should be reading about the future and present not about the past, but our past is the most important because we can read about the mistakes made and not make them again. To Kill a Mockingbird is based around the civil rights movement and that means that there was a lot of racism happening during the novel. Even though To Kill a Mockingbird is considered an “older” novel and currently it’s the 21st century and not all students enjoy reading this book in their schools but the novel should stay in these curriculums because of the hard times in the civil rights movement
Imagine a world where the United States didn’t have free speech, because that is what's happening slowly. States around the U.S are banning one of the most loved novels, To Kill a Mockingbird because it’s “too inappropriate”. Others say it’s harmful for children to read. Although the language may be offensive to some, MCHS students should read To Kill a Mockingbird since it can spark thoughtful and interesting discussions about racial intolerance and help them gain maturity from being exposed to others' ideas. To begin with, banning this book and others can stop the intriguing discussions students can have about racial intolerance.
Many books have been placed on the banned book list, they have been placed on the list because concerned people fear that certain books have and leave an effect on the reader. America’s classic novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee, has been placed on the banned book list ever since it was first published. To Kill A Mockingbird should absolutely remain on the banned book list because it shows racism throughout the entire book and teaches the reader that being prejudice is alright. As you read the novel To Kill A Mockingbird you notice that it is very racist. Throughout the novel you notice that it repeatedly uses the “n” word.
Some say To Kill a Mockingbird should not be taught; however, to kill a mockingbird should be taught because it shows you that not to make the same mistakes as others. To Kill a Mockingbird is important to study because it teaches you that is wrong to treat someone different because of their skin or how they act Finally, To Kill a Mockingbird is a good story to learn because it teaches you not to hate others also tkam is an interesting story, it has its ups and downs just like life after reading this essay what do you think is To Kill a Mockingbird a good story to
Ever wonder about real life lessons and what comes with having them, well the essay you 're about to read will teach you about them. First of all many lessons from older times have been taught today in school, some may not have been. To kill a mockingbird is a great lesson that teachers shouldn 't teach today for example the book has old fashioned and very sophisticated writing like on pg(31) “Jems free dispensation of my pledge..”, what high schooler in 10th grade is going to know what that word even means. If teachers are going to teach a lesson to their students then the kids should actually be able to understand the writing. Another example why to kill a mockingbird shouldn 't be taught in schools today is because kids would read this book and most likely not even be able to relate to the book, the whole racism thing we wouldn 't understand mainly because in our times everyone is treated the same, color doesn 't matter.
The book was challenged by a middle school in Brentwood, Tennessee in 2006 because the book contains “profanity” and “contains adult themes such as rape and incest.” The complaints also say that the book promotes “racial hatred, racial division, racial separation, and promotes white supremacy.” The people that say that are people that are trying to ‘protect’ other people from knowing and understanding what happened in the past because they believe that if they do know and understand what happened in the past then they will become racist and believe in white supremacy. These kinds of people are like the Holocaust deniers who believe that six million Jews where not murdered despite all of the evidence against that. George Santayana once said “Those who cannot remember the past are bound to repeat it.”
By examining the profanity, racial content, and references to rape, it’s deemed inappropriate for teens to read and is banned from several school libraries and lessons in school. Does the moral lesson of the story outweigh the so called inappropriate content of the book? Many people would agree with me if I said that To Kill a Mockingbird has a lesson in the story that every child should read and learn