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Why Is To Kill A Mockingbird Be Taught

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To Kill a Mockingbird is a novel that is very much still relevant today. Many people believe this book should not be taught but it should because it teaches valuable life lessons and raises awareness about racism. The bestseller is not only one of the most beloved books; it’s a world full of knowledge on just two hundred and eighty-one pages.

The N word is used in To Kill a Mockingbird, but not in an atrocious manner. Atticus, the lawyer who defends Tom Robinson-who’s accused of raping a white woman, explains to his daughter, “Nigger-lover is just one of those terms that don't mean anything—like snot-nose. It's hard to explain—ignorant, trashy people use it when they think somebody's favoring Negroes over and above themselves.” To which …show more content…

The majority of the lessons he has taught Scout throughout this paperback, I have kept in my brain. Scout and Jem are two very intelligent children. In the beginning of the book they’re inexperienced, but as the plot carries on, you get to read about how they grow and mature. One of the many lessons taught in this book is not to judge a book by its cover. On page 13 Jem gives a reasonable description of Boo, "Boo was about six-and-a-half feet tall, judging from his tracks; he dined on raw squirrels and any cats he could catch, that's why his hands were bloodstained—if you ate an animal raw, you could never wash the blood off. There was a long jagged scar that ran across his face; what teeth he had were yellow and rotten; his eyes popped, and he drooled most of the time." Towards the end of chapter 28 Boo Radley saves Scout and Jem. While Heck Tate and Scout were talking she notices Boo, “...and his gray eyes were so colorless I thought he was blind...as I gazed at him in wonder the tension slowly drained from his face. His lips parted into a timid smile, and our neighbor’s image blurred with my sudden tears.” (270) Scout begins to understand and accept Boo as a friend and not a scary character. Boo Radley is an amazing example of a guy who was inaccurately judged because he was too shy and uncomfortable to step outside his house. This teaches students that judging is no …show more content…

Some may say this book was written for adults and not teenagers because of the vocabulary, for example the word “Flivver” was used on page 10 and students may lack the knowledge to notice the references made. Nonetheless there’s nothing wrong with students learning new words but it may also prevent a lot of students from understanding and connecting with the novel.

To Kill a Mockingbird has become one of the world’s most famous books for a reason. The novel is a lesson in history. Reading this book will help students realize how sensitive the topic of segregation really is, It won’t go in one ear and out the other. Reading “To Kill a Mockingbird” in highschool moves the discussion of equal rights, increases the awareness of History, and teaches valuable life

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181 Words | 1 Pages

Immediately from the outset of the novel, Scout and Dill and the other kids in the neighborhood judge Boo Radley and imagine that he is some sort of “monster” or “boogeyman” just because he is different and does not come out much in public. Just based on what they have heard or imagine about Boo, Scout races past his house as if her life depended on it. She did not take the time to get to know him at all until he saved her life at the end of the story when Authur “Boo” Radley saves her land Jem’s lives does Scout see him as a human being and realize that he is actually a good guy. In the end, Scout even likens Boo to the “mockingbird” that her father told her it was a sin to kill because it hurts no one when she hugs her dad and thanks him

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658 Words | 3 Pages

If to kill a mockingbird makes you uncomfortable you should probably be reading to kill a mockingbird. Callie Byrnes puts it like this, “Racism should make people uncomfortable, and teaching about it in any other way just softens the blow. We don’t want to teach our children that yes, racism was rampant back then, but it wasn’t so terrible. Stripping it down to anything less is irresponsible.

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586 Words | 3 Pages

Some say his hands were bloodstained as he ate squirrels and cats. He was also said to have eaten one of her mother’s fingers when he could not find any. However, Scout believes Boo is just a misunderstood friend. Her naive innocence, helps Scout have the will to give him a chance. When Boo leaves anonymous gifts for Scout and Jem, Jem gives a warning about how an item from the Radley place could kill them.

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505 Words | 3 Pages

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee is a “timeless classic of growing up and the human dignity that unites the human race together.” The federal education standard’s reading list often recommend that To Kill a Mockingbird be taught to eighth graders not tenth. It should be taught to tenth graders rather than eighth graders for three reasons: there is a superfluous amount of profanity used in the book, the maturity level of tenth graders is higher than eighth graders; and the education on history is more advanced than what eighth graders have learned. These three reason’s are why To Kill a Mockingbird should not be read by and taught about to eighth graders.

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721 Words | 3 Pages

This book should be read in schools because it does give perspective on the topics listed above. To Kill a Mockingbird is a great story for teens to read in schools because it educates them on race issues, it portrays an important part of american history, and, with it’s use of archetypal characters, it helps students recall such events.

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913 Words | 4 Pages

Paul Hammer Mrs. Andrews English 2 May 1 2024 To Kill A Mockingbird’s debate To Kill A Mockingbird is a book, made by Harper Lee, which shows the learning experiences of the young, white main character, Scout, and her brother, Jem, during the segregation period. The book, however, is being heavily debated on whether this book should be taught to kids in the 9th grade at Belle Chasse High School. Many parents, and some teachers, say that the book’s setting of the segregation period is “offensive” and should not be taught to the students. I, however, feel that the students are missing out on this incredible book. The book teaches how life was during the segregation period, without being supportive of it and not ignoring it.

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493 Words | 2 Pages

There is a big debate on whether To Kill a Mockingbird should be read in classrooms. The author of this book is Harper Lee. The novel is written from Scout’s, the main character, perspective. I feel strongly that this book should be allowed to be read in classrooms for many reasons. The first reason why I defend this novel is because it is educational.

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614 Words | 3 Pages

"To Kill a Mockingbird", a book challenging the ideas of justice, racism, and human morality head-on creates a complex and interesting book with some debatable aspects around whether to teach it in schools. This book is a book centered around a young white girl, scout, whose father (Atticus) is sent to defend a black man against charges of rape. I believe the reason this needs to be brought up is because we need to address the issue of whether we should teach this book in classrooms. Certain people may say that yes, it should be taught in classrooms because it teaches the students about the bias and prejudice at the time. However, I believe that “"To Kill a Mockingbird"” is an outdated book, does not accurately represent black people, and that there are simply better alternatives in books to represent the themes in "To Kill a Mockingbird".

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974 Words | 4 Pages

At one point in the novel, Jem says to his sister, “Scout, I think I’m beginning to understand why Boo Radley’s stayed shut up in the house all this time… it’s because he wants to stay inside” (Lee 304). This line occurs before Boo Radley saves Scout and Jem, so after this event, Jem appreciates Boo, and realizes that he has more courage than originally thought. Boo is a character who shows no signs of fear, even though it may not seem like it at first, and his generosity and fearlessness make him a memorable, courageous

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2668 Words | 11 Pages

Therefore, "To Kill a Mockingbird" remains an important book because it encourages deep thinking and doing something about what one thinks in those who read it; this turns reading into an experience that changes young people as well as grown-ups for the

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833 Words | 4 Pages

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee has greatly influenced education in American schools. Although it has significantly impacted the English curriculum, this book has been deemed as a very controversial topic as many have wondered about the appropriateness of teaching it to students. Nevertheless, To Kill a Mockingbird should be taught in schools because it teaches compassion and empathy, and allows for connections to the real world. The novel should be taught in schools because it teaches readers to have compassion and empathy towards others. For instance, according to “Why I Kept Teaching To Kill a Mockingbird When Others Wouldn’t” by Elizabeth Heubeck, “It also inspired conversations about compassion and empathy—specifically, feeling compassion and not being afraid of those who are different

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935 Words | 4 Pages

Although racial slurs and bad language may seem unsettling and inappropriate for young adults, the usage throughout To Kill A Mockingbird actually helps readers understand the racial injustice and prejudice that occurred, and why it is not tolerable. One of the main characters Atticus Finch, defends a black man in court--Tom Robinson--who was falsey accused of raping a white woman. The main idea of this book is to represent racism in the U.S during this time period and how it unfortunately happened very often. The book proves that black people deserve just as many rights as white people do, so when people argue that the language isn’t necessary, it truly only contributes to understanding the cruelty and actions of realistic characters. Harper Lee describes “As you grow older you’ll see white men cheat black men every day of your life…but whenever a white man does that…he is trash (224).

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563 Words | 3 Pages

Early in the novel, Jem and Scout perceive Boo Radley as a “Malevolent Phantom”. Jem tells Scout that, “‘Boo was about six-and-a-half feet tall, judging from his tracks; he dined on raw squirrels and any cats he could catch, that’s why his hands were bloodstained -- if you ate an animal raw, you could never wash the blood off. There was a long jagged scar that ran across his face; what teeth he

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1163 Words | 5 Pages

Reading Harper Lee’s novel To Kill a Mockingbird is crucial to the tenth grade English curriculum for the lessons it teaches students and the topics it brings forward for discussion that students must acknowledge and understand. The whole point of an education system is to provide students with the tools to become productive citizens. This idea fuels the curriculum for students as they begin with their primary education all the way until they conclude high school or even a higher level degree. It is crucial that the information taught to students includes social issues in societies of the past and the present, enabling them to be active members in discussions they may face in the future. To Kill a Mockingbird targets an issue that has stood

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900 Words | 4 Pages

Personal Statement Since I was a child, I have shown great interest in exploring my surroundings. I was extremely eager to grasp every single piece of information into my growing brain. My family has always encouraged me to utilize my abilities to the fullest extent. As I grew, this passion became even bigger, and at those moments I came to an understanding that science will be my enjoyable hobby and my first and only career choice. When I was in my first year of medical school, I had to watch my cousin and best friend suffering because of Kidney Failure.

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