Books are pleasant, adventurous, and thought provoking escapes for children and the authors of them, despite what many people think, are not out to corrupt children. Some people take a different view on this issue and believe that many books, from classic novels like the "Catcher in the Rye" to the recent award-winning "Harry Potter", have objectionable subject matters that should not be used in the classroom. In schools around the nation, there is a hot debate about what literature students should be allowed to read. Many school districts have banned questionably some of the greatest books in literature, such as the renowned "To Kill a Mockingbird". My position is that schools should not be able to ban literature even if some parents do not approve of their objectionable content, because of the fact that they are indeed educational and may benefit many students by reading them. .
In Muskogee, Oklahoma an enormous controversy has exploded over the banning of the novel "To Kill a Mockingbird" by Harper Lee because of its racially sensitive issues. The book takes place in a white, segregated town, where a white lawyer defends a black man in court, despite the town's opposition. It used to be a required reading assignment for freshmen at Muskogee High School, but now has been transferred out of the classroom and to the back of the library shelf. Students may check it out if they wish to do so, however, the book will no longer be required, and therefore will undeniably dwindle from classic teenage reading. The school principle, Terry Saul, justifies the district's decision by commenting "It's a great book. It teaches life lessons" but, "we didn't want to put any kids in an uncomfortable situation" (CNN.com).
I read this book in ninth grade and as many people feel, thought it was amazing account of life in a small Alabama town during the years of the depression. Of course, during this time in history, many racial issues arose, but I feel that the book addresses them tastefully.