Lifting the Ban on To Kill a Mockingbird in the School Curriculum

Lifting the Ban on To Kill a Mockingbird in the School Curriculum

The book “To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee creates discomfort among many people that its study is banned among middle school and high school children. The book’s banning is attributed to pleas brought forward by parents and other organizations to the Department of Education due to the emphasized themes of the book. According to Saney (2003), the book was first delisted from approved books for the syllabus in 1996, alongside other books with emphasized racial themes. According to Liu (2019), the book’s relisting occurred in 2017, following promoters of speech freedom objection after an eighth-grader parent presented an objection. Furthermore, the presentation of more objections in Minnesota in 2018, the book ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ alongside another book, was banned from the syllabus (Liu, 2019). However, promoters of speech freedom continue voicing their position on this ban, seeking to get it lifted. Accordingly, the book “To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee should not be banned for use in middle and high school because of the book’s themes, including friendship, injustice, and racism. Do you need any help for completing your assignment ? Contact us at eminencepapers.com. We endeavor to provide you with excellent service.

Students in middle and high school should be allowed to study the book “To Kill a Mockingbird” because of the book’s themes. One of the themes of the book is friendship. Every summer, Scout Finch, Jem Finch, and Dill would play games that created the basis of their friendship. Their friendship routine illustrates the significance of seasons, whereby, in one season, they’re enrolled in school while in another season, they are on holiday where they can play and make new friends. This theme indicates the importance of each season and the significance of creating relationships and friendships. In the film, as they play, Scout says, “Come on, Dill! – Me first! Me first! Me first! Me first! No! Me, me, me!” and finally, her brother agrees, saying, “Oh, let her be first” (Mulligan, 1962). This conversation illustrates the importance of compromise in resolving disputes instead of violence. Further, in a developed world, compromise is a trait people can acquire while still minor. Therefore, this theme is essential in character building. Also, it is rare to see minors currently playing actively as most games are passive, presently contributing to an increase in the number of obese and overweight children. Therefore, this theme can be used to illustrate the importance of active games, friendships, and peace.

The second theme of importance is injustice. The aim source of the theme of injustice is the case and demise of Tom Robinson, who was wrongly accused of raping a white woman. In the film, Atticus Finch says, “There’s been some high talk around town… to the effect that I shouldn’t do much about defending this man” (Mulligan, 1962). This statement is apparent evidence of the injustice since Tom Robinson was found guilty before the case was presented in court. This theme is important because it enlightens students on probable injustice. Also, it indicates the shortcomings of judging others without understanding their position. Tom Robinson was not the only person misjudged since Boo Radley was also misjudged for many years. Per the town’s rumors on Boo Radley, whom they described as “A maniac lives there, and he’s dangerous”(Mulligan, 1962). An image was created in the children’s minds about Boo “He eats raw squirrels and all the cats he can catch. There’s a long, jagged scar that runs across his face. His teeth are yellow and rotten. His eyes are popped, and he drools most of the time” (Mulligan, 1962). However, when they meet him later on, they discover he is a nice person when he saves them from Bob Ewell and even leaves gifts for them on a tree near their house. This theme can, therefore, be used to teach students the shortcomings of being judgmental and asking them to be unbiased. Also, it teaches these students that the world is unjust sometimes, but the good always prevails in the end, as is the case with the mockingbird, which should not be harmed.

The third theme of significance is racism. Racism is a central theme of the book, and it is also a significant source of disagreements (Liu, 2019). Harper Lee spreads awareness in the book using the characters. Atticus represents Tom Robinson in court despite the understanding that they would probably lose the case. However, children’s exposure to activities such as lynching and the name-calling in the book, such as “Nigger lover,” is used to refer to Atticus Finch for agreeing to defend Tom Robinson (Mulligan, 1962). Additionally, during the court proceedings, Atticus says, “She was white, and she tempted a Negro. She did something that, in our society, is unspeakable” in the presence of children (Mulligan, 1962). A teacher can use this theme to teach minors why some words and phrases are not repeated in society while expressing sensitivity to any questions. This is because misinformation spreads amongst children on all topics; therefore, a teacher can use this theme to clarify misunderstandings among students.

The ban on the book is mostly attributed to the theme of racism. The focus on racism and racist terminologies used in the book, in the context of race, results in discomfort and discrepancies between people (Liu, 2019). Despite this argument being valid, more can be done to spread awareness among minors about misconceptions using the book. Moreover, the book depicts Harper Lee’s childhood, and therefore, there is a possibility that there are children facing such challenges in their daily lives, and giving them the forum to express their thoughts might actually save a child’s life.

In conclusion, the theme of racism contributes to the frequent requests to ban the book from the syllabus. However, the racism in the book sheds light on some sensitive themes that would otherwise not be addressed. Therefore, the book ‘To Kill The Mockingbird’ should not be banned because it is essential in character creation for minors and kids.

References

Liu, K. (2019). Harper Lee, “To Kill a Mockingbird” – The Banned Books Project. Bannedbooks.library.cmu.edu. Retrieved from https://bannedbooks.library.cmu.edu/harper-lee-to-kill-a-mockingbird/.

Mulligan, R. (1962). To kill a mockingbird. Brentwood Productions.

Saney, I. (2003). The Case Against To Kill a Mockingbird. Race & Class, 45(1), 99-105. https://doi.org/10.1177/0306396803045001005

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Lifting the Ban on To Kill a Mockingbird in the School Curriculum

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