Controversy over the choice of books used to teach within schools has many parents questioning whether a book is appropriate for a school setting. Truman Capote’s novel, In Cold Blood, is a perfect example of a novel that tests the limits with the content placed in the book. Within Capote’s novel, he discusses many topics that parents find inappropriate for teachers to teach to their children. The Windsor Forest High School, in Savannah, Georgia, banned this book, “when a parent complained about sex, violence, and profanity …” (Banned and Challenged Classics). Although the novel, In Cold Blood, includes words and slurs teenager use in their daily vocabulary, it should be banned within schools due to the difficult and sensitive topics addressed …show more content…
One of the main characters, Perry Smith, had a childhood ruined by his mother’s addiction to multiple substances, including alcohol, as well as witnessing his father physically abuse his mother. When Perry’s father, Tex, was writing to the Parole Board to help get him out on parole, Tex wrote that “…liquor blurred the face, swollen the figure of the once sinewy, limber Cherokee girl… honed her tongue to the wickedest point, so dissolved in her self-respect that generally she did not bother to ask the names of the stevedores and trolley car conductors and such persons who accepted what she offered without charge…” (Capote 127). The mother of Perry, Flo, turned to alcohol and promiscuity when the father started to abuse Flo. Smith would become used to the constant flow of strange men in and out of the house. Due to the fact that Tex and Flo showed little attention on their children, they were almost always left without supervision and guidance. In addition, Perry, himself, also had an addiction, he was addicted to aspirin. This is due to “the accident had occurred in 1952, his chunky, dwarfish legs, broken in five places and pitifully scarred, still pained him to this day…” (Capote 30). What started off as a way to reduce the pain in his legs, turned into something much more serious. The addiction that was formed lasted many years, due to his love of the taste as …show more content…
When kept in the curriculum, it can have a portion of students uncomfortable in a classroom when discussing the topics because of events that took place within their lives. Racism is a continuing problem in the twentieth century, and continues to be a problem in the twenty first century. During Perry’s time in an orphanage, there were nurses who “… hated me… being half-Indian. There was this one nurse, she used to call me ‘nigger’ and say there wasn’t any difference between niggers and Indians” (Capote 128). Racism is still occurring well into the twenty-first century, but with a new aspect, social media. The rise of social media helps the ideas of hatred spread around faster than ever. “The rapid growth of race hate speech on the internet seems to have overwhelmed the capacity of states, corporations, or civil society…” (Jakubowicz 1). With new technological advances, the message of hate is finding new ways to spread, and a classroom is the place a student should not expect a degrading word to be used. To illustrate the severity of Dick’s state of mind, Capote uses immense detail regarding his preferences regarding relationships. During his interrogation, Dick reflects on his actions and comes to the realization that “‘…the main reason I went to there was not to rob them but to rape the girl… I did not
Throughout the course of his article, “How Do They Do It” Chris Crutcher argues that the school systems should not take books that are relatable and significant to students out of the curriculum because of parents or un-educators urging them into censoring books with no proof of wrong effects on the students. Crutcher makes his argument through the use of his personal experiences, prejudice or biased opinion, and allusion throughout the article. When making his argument Crutcher uses his personal experience and observations to show the effects censoring his book had on the students and teachers in the school. Crutcher’s book, Whale Talk, was censored by the school system in a school in Fowlerville, Michigan after one parent complained for disturbing
In some schools even Ray Bradbury’s novel Fahrenheit as been censored so kids may read, which is very ironic since Bradbury wrote about how the government censors certain things to control what people
One of the main reasons why race is not discussed in the classroom is because it is an uncomfortable subject to discuss. One reason why people do not talk about race in the classroom was because they were taught that it was impolite to do so. In an article titled Why Can’t We Talk About Race, the author Noliwe Rooks asserts Feeling uncomfortable because race or racism is mentioned in your presence just doesn’t compare to the economic, psychological, and spiritual consequences of structured racial inequality […] Of course, the problem is that many of us—black and white alike—have been taught that race and racism, like politics and money, are impolite topics best left unexplored with strangers. By the time we’ve entered the academy, many of us have already absorbed this truism.
but the book has also sparked wild discussions about its content and if it should be taught in schools across the country. Although The Catcher In The Rye presents strong sexual themes and vulgar language, these aspects showcase the characters ' deepest emotions while staying true to the human experience and the power of language. The very same issues that cause the catcher in the rye to climb the banned book list, sexual themes and vulgar language, are exactly the things that make this piece worth teaching in high school curriculums, as they show readers the truest
In many high school curriculums, the book “Of Mice and Men” has come under increasing scrutiny in recent years due to its use of racial slurs. In a poll by KFF.org, 7-10 black Americans said that they have experienced racism in their life. If more than half of all black Americans have experienced harmful words against them something should be done about it, such as limiting their exposure to harmful words. The novel features several instances where characters use derogatory terms towards people of different races and ethnicities, including the N-word and the C-word. While some argue that using these slurs is necessary for historical accuracy and authenticity, others believe that they perpetuate harmful stereotypes and contribute to a culture
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.
“Using profanity was against school policy and having the book in the library made newly elected school board member, Larry McDonald, feel uncomfortable.”
Douglas Howard presents a personal experience of literary censorship in the article "Silencing Huck Finn.", defining the decision of when choosing censorship has a greater benefit over becoming offensive. In the article, Howard discusses the benefits of establishing an open dialogue around controversial literature through instating a college English course. Additionally, the author analyzes the experience of needing to choose whether to recite aloud a profanity included in Mark Twain’s classic story “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn”, contemplating if staying true to a literary classic is worth perhaps offending or insulting any students. Eventually coming to the conclusion that although total censorship is not a necessity or solution,
Different types of literature open new doors through which students’ can explore the unknown and expand their knowledge of controversial topics. The great examples found in literature have been the subject of much debate, as school boards wrestle with whether children should be allowed to read such difficult, harsh topics, as said in the article “How Banning Books Marginalizes Children” (Source F). There are so many brilliant works of literature spanning a wide variety of genres and topics, and a single school board should not determine what students learn. No one is proposing that second graders read The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas, but rather that we intentionally choose literature that will expand, rather than limit, children’s options and minds. Not only do these great works lay the groundwork for our future generation, but they also serve to diversify students’ writing and analysis skills.
A fictional teacher whose name I am not at liberty to disclose has been recorded as making the following comment, “I realize that Night is a powerful, well-written book but I would not use it in class. I would prefer to have students read a more uplifting piece of Holocaust literature, such as The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank or Lois Lowry’s Number the Stars.” I will attempt to refrain from insulting this teacher’s teaching style because I have tremendous respect for all teachers, but these comments cannot be allowed to remain unchecked. I do not support this teaching style. By omitting Night from classroom activities while learning about the Holocaust and literature that has been created from it, this teacher is doing a large disservice to his/her students.
Schools in various cities around the nation have been investigating certain books and their literary merit to determine whether they are appropriate for the school environment. Countless articles in today’s news world contain information and evidence surrounding both sides of the argument for almost any book that is questionable. Among the negatives that researchers have found often include inappropriate language for the students to be reading and sexual content considered too explicit for high school and middle school readers. On the other end of the spectrum, people see good things from these books such as their ability to teach students certain things while relating to their intended audiences at the same time. Chris McCandless, the main character of Into the Wild, is a character from which readers take a lot away.
Amara Crook Harmon—L202 Major Paper 3 Clever Title Countee Cullen’s “Incident” explores the concept of unprovoked and unwarranted racism through the eyes of an eight-year-old boy. In his short yet powerful poem, Cullen uses a single incident in which a young boy “riding through old Baltimore” (1) is singled out and called the N-word by another very small child, despite having done or said nothing to offend the boy. Although this incident is clearly hurtful, why is this incident in particular so important?
As people continue to write, many wonder, are the words put down on paper at risk of endangering our children? Many critics argue that controversial topics should be kept in books to show the struggles people have gone through. Defenders argue that students will become so fixated on the dark topics, that they won’t be able to see the difference in real life and the book, and make poor decisions because of it. Allowing the book banning to happen would cause a large portion of controversial books to display a different message to the reader than what was intended. However, supporters claim this will prevent conflict and shock.
Keane states, “An unfortunate commonplace in our educational institutions these days is the notion that students must be protected from certain literature because it could damage them or trigger hidden traumas.” James T. Keane, an editor at Orbis Books, states another problem, which is that censorship limits what can be taught in schools. Books such as The Great Gatsby, Lord of the Flies, Of Mice and Men, and To Kill a Mockingbird are all banned despite the educational purposes of them.("Banned & Challenged Classics." Banned & Challenged Classics. Web.
In order for students to grow, they need to be exposed to real life situations. In order to move on from difficult parts of our history, we need to learn about them. Although many parents may have concerns about these controversial books, these students are old enough to handle