Mental Disabilities In Allison L. Baer's Of Mice And Men

Books have been challenged in schools for decades all over the world; of those books, Of Mice and Men has been one of the most challenged. This book is about two men traveling together in search of work during the Great Depression to try to reach the American Dream. One objection to Of Mice and Men is its portrayal of African-Americans and individuals with mental disabilities. The most common reason Of Mice and Men has been constantly challenged is that the repeated use of profanity and racial slurs throughout the book might desensitize students to those words. Although Of Mice and Men includes frequent use of profanity, the overall subject matter should be included in high school curriculum because it gives students insight into the Great Depression period-an important part of American history-and allows for a safe

This book presents an accurate portrayal of life during the Great Depression in which many topics are introduced such as mental and physical disabilities, the American Dream, and race. Learning about these topics through a narrative can give students an understanding of the social and economic implications during that time. As said by Allison L. Baer, an associate professor at the University of Findlay, "[b]y reading...trade books[books intended for general readership], students collaboratively gain understanding as they delve into issues and topics more broadly and deeply"(284). Reading a piece of literature that incorporates important parts of history can create more of an impact of the reader due to the storytelling nature; students may be more inclined to understand the historical context of the book when they are more connected to the characters. Although the main focus of Of Mice and Men is not on the Great Depression, the setting of the book is during that time period, so glimpses into the life of the characters, who represent men looking for work and striving for the American Dream, are shown. Based on these