To Kill A Mockingbird Be Taught In The High School Curriculum

To Kill a Mockingbird should be taught in the high school curriculum because of its lessons on courage and community. In an inequitable society, students must be prepared to make difficult choices that require courage. To Kill A Mockingbird provides students with guidance through the character of Atticus Finch — a character who embodies moral integrity. Finch’s actions exemplify the ideal man in all aspects as he is an excellent single father and reputable lawyer in his town. He remains steadfast in his decisions regardless of the adverse reactions he receives. Finch’s statement on courage prompts students to consider their understanding of courage and the broader meaning of moral conviction and personal principles, “I wanted you to see what

The Jim Crow era is defined by laws that severely restricted the participation of African Americans in society. The racial hierarchy and segregation laws are interlinked in Maycomb’s community, affecting the interactions and experiences of the characters. Students are exposed to the historical context and social norms of the time, allowing them to better understand the origins of prejudice and stereotypes that prevail to this day. A common fear during the Jim Crow era was interracial relationships; white individuals were afraid that African Americans would enter their communities by having families with white women. In the courtroom, Atticus Finch states: “She did something that in our society is unspeakable: she kissed a black man” (Lee___). This quotation encourages students to analyze the power dynamics of the Jim Crow era and the common exploitation of racial laws by white individuals. It encapsulates the fear-mongering caused by white supremacy and is a reflection of the hundreds of African American men who were subject to false accusations. To Kill a Mockingbird should be taught in the highschool curriculum as it is influenced by and contributes to the ideals of the civil rights movement. To Kill a Mockingbird was published in 1960, during the height of the movement. With 500,000 copies sold in its first year, the novel

Activist and critic Andray Domise states that To Kill a Mockingbird was “not only written in an immature voice, but poured out of a mind immaturely attuned to racialized people as human beings who continue to exist when white people aren’t thinking about them”. Domise questions the use of a child as a narrator and the authenticity of the novel’s exploration of racial experiences. He suggests that the novel fails to recognize the struggles of black individuals without the use of white perspectives. While critics like Domise raise valid concerns about the limited perspective of Scout Finch's narration in To Kill a Mockingbird, it is essential to understand the novel’s broader purpose. In the novel, Scout asks: “Well how do you know we ain’t Negroes?” (Lee__). Harper Lee’s choice of a child as a narrator allows the reader to witness the racial injustices of the time from an innocent and unbiased perspective. While Scout may not be able to fully understand the racial complexities of her time, her status as a child gives her the curiosity and courage to question and explore those racial norms; she is not yet burdened by the social conditioning and prejudices of her time. While it is true that the novel primarily focuses on the experiences of white characters, it does not negate the