School district pulls 'To Kill A Mockingbird' from reading list; 'makes people uncomfortable'

[moriah]

9. Apparently the "language" is the n-word.

http://www.sunherald.com/news/local/counties/harrison-county/article178572326.html

Sun Herald received a email from a concerned reader who said the decision was made “mid-lesson plan, the students will not be allowed to finish the reading of ‘To Kill A Mockingbird’ .... due to the use of the ‘N’ word.”

The reader said, “I think it is one of the most disturbing examples of censorship I have ever heard, in that the themes in the story humanize all people regardless of their social status, education level, intellect, and of course, race. It would be difficult to find a time when it was more relevant than in days like these.”

If a teacher can't explain that the historical language used is important to know, so they know why its use today as an epithet is problematic... there's a problem. Especially to 8th graders, who in most districts are about to enter high school.

We can't ignore history and pretend it never happened. No, facing history isn't going to turn kids into self-hating white people. We might actually start to teach some empathy.