In class a few months ago, my teacher was sent a nasty message from a student’s parent requesting that we do not finish the book: The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. The teacher declined to do so and then even made us write an essay about if we believe it should be banned from public schools or not.

I disagree with that parent. If we began to remove offensive books at the request of each culture or group, then we would lose vast pools of knowledge, culture, and (most important) history.

I have nothing against the African American society and in fact, I happen to have African American blood running through my veins… but I think some of the measures which have been taken are uncalled for and almost discriminating against those of us with paler skin.

A book such as The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn uses the same language and disturbing images as Uncle Tom’s Cabin… yet Huck Finn is the one targeted. Why? Is it because Jim’s character? Though called various names (which, by the way, were common in the time period thus a mark in history) and portrayed as a bit… eccentric, I overall think that since Huck sees Jim as more of a father like figure than his own, the effect is neutralized.

As for the language, the word so commonly discussed and fought over is said to be traumatizing to students. However, take a walk down a high school hall and you’ll hear the word coming from the very mouths of those it would be traumatizing to. Why should we remove a piece of literature which holds much value to history because of a word when we have done nothing to stop the usage of the same word in the mouths of today’s youth? Shouldn’t we remove certain words from the streets and homes of today before removing literature from libraries?

i think as long as the teachers dont shared it with the students its fine unless its nothing bad then its alright

I haven't read Huckleberry Finn... but I honestly despise book censorship. Everyone from the time you start to talk tells you that reading is good. It helps you learn; it stimulates your imagination and thoughts! All it really does is shelter kids from something either until theyre thrown into the "real" world or until the next book that they missed with the same content comes along. It's pointless!

We had a mock trial of censorship the last day of AP English. It was cute, a fun needless exercise. I was one of 7 school board members who were hearing out "concerned citizens for decency" who wanted to ban 1984... and "advocates for academic freedom" who wanted to keep 1984. One person (can't remmber what group he was in) suggested a rating system for books. I think that is a very valid point, in all actuality. Because obviously books have been found to have some lurid content - similar to that of movies, and if parents think so much of the impact of books as movies then why not rate books too so the parents will know ahead of time? It's a warning to those who want to shelter their kids for some amount of time. And for others who want their kids to experience life and learn from others' mistakes, etc. it would be another label to warn their kids about.

I believe there would only be very few instances in which books should actually be banned from schools. Granted, some books need to be left for the older "kids" but definitely not banned altogther, even from younger kids' libraries because not all children read at the same level of knowledge or maturity.

I agree with you on this topic. As I said in a different forum, I am against book censorship. And especially a book like Huckleberry Finn, which I read in my English class, why ban it?

So it uses some bad words...as you said, what high school doesn't have people going down the hall saying worse things? And as for content, it is making a very important message about racism in the South after Reconstruction. Why does this offend anyone?

Some people are just way too scared to allow their kids to learn about topics that have society on edge.

This book was required reading in my high school and I enjoyed Huckleberry Finn. I thought the whole purpose of the book was to show us how black people were treated in that time period and to show us how to have empathy for people of all races and backgrounds, etc. I think it would be a tragedy to ban such a book!!! Shame on those people who interpret the book by the "bad" words in it and not what the content of the book is saying!!

It shouldn't be banned at all. We can't forget the past. We need to learn about it even with its racism. Its one of the most important things to know!
We need these books to progress. And we can't take away these things from kids. They can handle it!!
We had to read that book this year too. And most of the important books are banned! Who bans them anyway??

I believe that if any book correctly portrays any historic event, even if disturbing or having fictional characters and cross plot lines, then it should be available for public view. Yes, the rating system is a good idea, but I think instead of age, it be ‘elementary’, ‘jr. high’, ‘high’. Once you enter high school, all books should be available to you. If you can be a senior in high school and go to a gory rated R movie, than you can read a book such as Uncle Tom’s Cabin and Lord of the Flies.

High school in general is supposed to get you prepared for life. If students are sheltered in their prep, then what will happen when they are faced (on their own) with life?

Would you send a soldier who has only played shooter games out on the front lines? No. Then why send students out, naive, to the real world where knowing any scrap of knowledge from these ‘bad’ books could be useful?

Yes, but not for ban it from schools. Yes for the idea that it is what it is. History is history and words used in history as part of a culture and way of living need to be preserved as just that.

What is important, is the point trying to get across through the authors words. In no way are these authors of classic novels trying to say that it is ok to use the words in the same context the novel uses them in.

Most kids are smart enough to understand that things said in a novel are used to carry along a story. Often times these kids are already using these type of words just becuase we they are able to see from cable television.

Many kids have already watched shows like The Chapell(sp) Show by the time they are out of middle school. I am not going to lie. I have enjoyed a few episodes, but the humor is very crude.

I read The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn when I was ten and I was always bewildered as to *why* people wanted to ban it.
That is to say, I knew the reasons behind it but I didn't understand the 'reasoning behind the reason'.
"So what?" was my thinking.


Ban it in schools?
Definitely not.
Amavi, I agree with a lot of what you say both here and on the 'Censorship and Ratings Forum'.
No book should be banned with the exception of obscenely erotic literature... In my opinion, that would almost be the equivalent of school's having pornographic materials, naughty magazines and videos available.

But books like Huckleberry Finn?
Who are you [schools] to tell people what they can and cannot read?
Just because one person gets offended doesn't mean everyone else will. It doesn't give him or her the right to impress their will on everyone else.
And high schoolers or younger reading the book will have interpret and handle the book different.

"As for the language, the word so commonly discussed and fought over is said to be traumatizing to students. However, take a walk down a high school hall and you’ll hear the word coming from the very mouths of those it would be traumatizing to."
So true, so true.
As time wears on, the word is losing its original meaning because it's interpreted differently than what it used to.
It does not carry the same weight as it did just a short while ago in history.
What one generation finds offensive, the next generation to a lesser extent and the next to an even lesser.

A rating system... As I said, I read the book when I was ten and though some of the meaning may have went over my head I would've been devastated if it was rated 'PG-13'.
I always wanted to read 'adult' books at a young age, Tom Clancy, Robin Cook, etc. and a rating on books would've just been an excuse to say no.

I don't think a rating system would be that easy to implement anyway. Books differ from movies in the way that you determine how you interpret the words.
Though the author gives you the words, the descriptions, ultimately it is you who paints the picture of what's going on, of how much and how gruesomely someone is bleeding, how the campground looks, how abusive someone is being, etc.


I'll probably read be reading Huckleberry Finn again, you've piqued my interest.

Great forum!

TwistyWristy

I commend your words Amavi...I think the loss of classic literature tht look at society as well color have their place in the libraries of our youths.
Part of the issue comes from the fact that Samuel Clemens/Mark Twain is white. He came from a poor town in Missouri, where share croppers, and slaves did work the fields. I think the issue of the n-word is taken out of context and the racial divide begins.
not fair for any student. glad the teacher had guts enough to stand by the book. does it stand by uncle tom's cabin? perhaps, but the thing is that was a book from the perspective of an african-american.
We are all one. I have found that I am part african american (not a lot but enough), as well indian. Both have had their enslavement in our world.
We can't ignor the past. It is our history.

and interesting thought: German law states that you will be arrested if you don;t believe the holocaust never happened. That is a pretty strict rule. It happened, they know it, as do we.
And yesterday for my tesol/tesl practicum, I used music to discuss grammar. I told the class afterwards, that the Beatle heard music and since there were only records, they sang the music like that of a coloured singer. They did not know better, so....were they ignorant? no, they did not know. I shake my head at people so damn ignorant.

i totally agree with you on this one...if everyone was able to have literature removed because it was 'offensive' there would be a great loss!! people need to stop being so sensitive.

they can't shield their children from all offensive material and language in the world.

I just think people are too affected by things. There are so many complaints about this or that thing that everyone seems to be complaining about something.I think this is just dumb.

There are lots of different portrayls of catholics on the tv which are exaggerated. I just don't watch these shows or programs cause they are annoying. I know the make catholics look bad, but that is what tv does. It makes groups of people look worse than they are in real life.

I have the same opinion about books. If you don't like them, don't read them.If you have to read them as an assignment, deal with it.

This is my opinion.

A lot of the tome parents dont want there children to be exposed to particular language so I agree with what you have to say however I can understand the parents point of view as well. I imagine that the parents might not have a problem with the book itself, It might be that there is specific language in the book that they dont want there children to be exposed to. It is true that regardless of parents efforts that they cant stop particuar language from reaching there children but im sure any effort they can make to stop it they will try. A lot of African Americans have had bad experiences when it comes to that particular word. Thats why you have people in the Naacp who say that they dont want rappers and children saying it. So I understand both points of views.

love laugh and live

I read Huck Finn when I was in school and my son has to read it next year. I understand why some people are offended due to the language used but the language was reflective of the time though it is inappropriate. I do not agree with censorship.

I am a parent totally against book censorship. Huck Finn is a great book. Some parents just need to let the teachers do their jobs. Whether we like it or not history is there and it is not going to go away. Rather than banning the book, use it as a tool for what we do not want to happen again. I guess some people are just not comfortable teaching their kids right from wrong...

America prides itself on being open.
we have ammendments that protect our freedom and right to express ourselves.
i beleive that no bbook should be banne form schools.
if books are not read then how will the children leanr how things are all over the world.
In order to learn you need ot knwo both sides of the story.
We are in the 21st century. why are we going backwards?
freedom to read what we want, should always be upheld.

I think the book should be made available in school library's because of the historic nature of its content. I do however feel that it should not be taught in English classes but perhaps in history classes as a part of a lesson on racial dynamics and history in America.

I do think that the use and intention of the word when used by today's youth is quite a bit different than the intention of it in the book (which I read when I was ten too) which is why this has generated such controversy.

So let those who want to read it do so, but don't make it a part of non-history curriculum is my take on it.

Thanks for this interesting post! :0)

You are right on regarding the ridiculous attempt to ban Huck Finn from schools. Such attempts are terribly unauthentic. Twain was hardly the bigot that such a move implies. If anything, such literature should be maintained as required reading and the teaches teaching it need to focus on helping the students work through understanding the historical context in which the story exists. It can also be an excellent starting point for discussions on the role of potentially offensive content in the arts and how to know where to draw the line (some sort of arts ethics).

During my sophomore year, my advanced English class read Huck Finn. We also had a discussion about it in class that included responding to materials on other "banned books," and the product was interesting. Every single person in my class agreed that it would be pointless, maybe even hurtful, to ban a book like this from our school. Mark Twain's excessive use of the "n" word was too make a point, using it 200+ times was pointless because he believed using it at all was pointless.

We really enjoyed reading that book, and coming from an advanced class who read at least one book (maybe more) a month, honestly, we all actually read it, instead of the few who would continuously SparkNote things.

On the other hand, when a book called "And Tango Makes Three" was brought up, there were a few kids who suggested material like that shouldn't be taught in a schooling environment - because the book implies (and does not explicitly state) the existence of a homosexual relationship because Mambo has two dads. It does not say they are married or anything else of the sort, but because they are both males, the book has been labeled "Anti-Ethnic, Sexism, Homosexuality, Anti-Family, Religious Viewpoint, Unsuited to Age Group" (http://www.ala.org/ala/newspresscenter/news/pressreleases2008/may2008/penguin.cfm).

The one thing I did notice by discussing Huck Finn, however, was the unfortunate absence of the an opinion that I think would really matter in the discussion, an African-American student's opinion. Quite a few of my other classmates noted it as well and we all had wished that we could've had a chance to hear if they were offended by the use of the word or not, seeing as though that's why many schools have banned the book.

I have had the fortunate experience of never attending a school that has banned books - I went to a private, Catholic school for 8 years, and in our library we even had Phillip Pulman's "Golden Compass" series in which he has metaphors that relate to killing God ad other things that are against our religion. This was in our Catholic school - shouldn't all schools be that accepting?