The Best Laid Lesson Plans of Mice and Men Often Go Awry…
So, I told you yesterday about my angry “Of Mice and Men” parent last year. I have been teaching the novel for years, and this was the first complaint I had ever received about it. However, the fact is, that is not an uncommon occurrence with this particular book. OMAM is one of the most frequently challenged books in the country. Mainly because of the use of one particular word. I chose not to make a big deal about the use of the word in the book. In fact, I didn’t even mention it to you before you read it. In all honesty, I meant to warn you about it and it just slipped my mind that day. However, I feel like you guys are mature enough to understand how to look at things in context and understand that some things are not intended to be offensive in certain usages. That word is not the only complaint people have with the book (of course some people will complain about ANYTHING). Some say there is too much violence, too much sex, etc. Some even complain that the ending justifies euthanasia.
The truth remains that OMAM is a classic piece of American literature. It’s not meant to be offensive. Instead, it is meant to paint a realistic portrait of life in that time period while presenting themes and ideas that we can still relate to today. You can see that it generated some good discussion in class yesterday. I wish we had been able to discuss it for more than one day. Luckily, we have the blog so we can. I’m including a couple of links to a couple of real instances where the book has been challenged. Read them over, then weigh in with your opinion. Is it a book that should continue to be taught or should it be banned because of offensive content?
Here are the two articles:
http://www.erinoconnor.org/archives/2003/01/banning_steinbe.html
I do agree that this book had some offensive language and content, but I think this book should still be taught in school. We have to be mature and understand that this was the culture then. Also we need to get the bigger picture and understand the story as a whole. We have to look beyond the language and see what the story was all about: weekness vs. strength, the American Dream, etc. I do disagree with the teacher that refused to omit the cuss words after a student asked her to stop saying them. so i think the book should be taught in school because it has a deeper meaning than most books these days and of course, its a classic!
-quartergirl5
wow that was absolutely ridiculous, i mean iunderstand how parents want the best for their children, but settle down already. It seems like they just needed an excuse to cause problemsbecause in our societytoday, especially at highschool those words are thrown around like nothing, why is it such a big dealwhen they’re in a book thats educational. Aren’t we all mature enough to handle that by this age? And it made it seem even more that they just needed an excuse to complain when the school board offered alternate reading assignments and the mother refused, i’m glad the parent last year didn’t go that far.
ok this is down rihgt stupid! if they dont want their kids exposed to this kind of stuff then they need to lock them in a room and never let them out or watch tv or read pretty much any book ( except maybe the velvetine rabbit
) this stuff is every where! people just need to face that and make sure they teach their children not to act that way or say those things. and i might be crazy but i think that parent that went to the office about the book was just upset that their kid got a bad grade. im pretty sure it had nothing to do with the content of the book. they probably didnt even know what the book was about until after they got the bad grade. people just need to face the facts and relize that this stuff is out there. and that everyone has probably done something in this book at one time or another! (maybe not the killing part but you never know)
6teen
i agree that this book is ok to be taught in schools. i think as 10th graders we should be mature enough to handle the content. i also think we should be mature enough to not run home to our parents everytime some content is somewhat questionable. i think parents have a right to complain, but i also think they should ask their kids how they feel about reading those words before saying anything. i understand that some people dont want their kids learning those words at “such a young age” but they should also know that its high school and those words are used constantly. personaly i think people would rather have their kids learn those words in a controlled classroom than out on the streets.
Look, my personal opinion is that that word (and a few others in the book) shouldn’t be in the book. However, it does complete the mood of the book for the time period in which the story takes place. I don’t think people should not read it just because of that word. It’s not like no one knows that word or that it’s not a polite word. I see why people could be offended by it though. But it’s a word, and you shouldn’t dwell on that word as much as the actual story being told.
Disclaimer: This one post may cause controversy. Reader descretion is advised.
Yes people. The N word is used in there a lot. Like a ton. But these are different times. And if you are offended by it, then just think. Do you use the N word. Making you African American DOESN’T justify the word at all. And if you are trying to get people to stop then you need to understand that everybody needs to stop using it, even the hip gangsta rappers. Hypocrites. Sometime when I’m walking down the hallway and hear it from a black person, I’ll do the dumb thing and say it to help get a point across. I’m pleased to say it has worked 8 times. And cracker is practically just as offensive. I’m just saying that if you find it so offensive, then don’t be a hypocrite about it. And yes, replacing “-er” with “-a” is just as bad.
Euthanasia- the act of putting to death painlessly or allowing to die, as by withholding extreme medical measures, a person or animal suffering from an incurable, esp, a painful, disease or condition; mercy killing.
GIVE ME A BREAK!!!!!!! Sometimes things need to be put out of their misery or suffering. If you run over a cat in the road and it can’t move, then what do you do?? You back up over it. During the summer, I shot a cat in the back of the head. It was a mercy kill. The storm had cut open it’s stomach and ripped a limb off. I wasn’t going to let a dying animal seek refuge on my grandpa’s land. There was no way it was going to live. I couldn’t watch it suffer.
For all you people who are all like “It’s not right at all still.” I know you have read Twilight. Remember when Edward is telling Bella that being bitten is worse than death and you want to be killed. Think of that. And there are some cases where dying is much better than living.
I’m going to stop there. I was about to get really graphic.
GNG
I don’t think the book should be abandoned, despite it’s awful ending, because it reveals many great lessons. One of the articles mentions that if a family does not like it, maybe the parents should read it with their child and they might realize what the real meaning of the story is. If the content is really that offensive and that big of a problem, is it really that hard to just skip that word or replace it approriately? I’m pretty sure authors don’t just sit down and put these words in a book for pure verbal abuse. These words are strong which creates a more effective image for describing each individual character. Honestly, I didn’t this book was all that bad. Yes, it had it’s boring moments, but it was an interesting book to realize just how easily people get frustrated with others and to what extent they will push it to to get through their breaking point.
-frogrclogr_5
I honestly think that the book should continue to be taught. It’s not a terrible book but it’s not a book that’s going to stay on the New York Times’ best list for 10 consecutive weeks. The only problem I had with it is obviously the language. However, I think most of us are mature enough to handle books that have that kind of language.
pistons6101
I thought we would do something like this. I’ve always thought that, as teens and young adults, a small group of people shouldn’t decide what we can and can’t read. I mean, sure a little kid shouldn’t read this book, but banning it in high schools? Yes I was uncomfortable reading some of the language, but most of the time I skipped those words and read it for what I was supposed to.
That teacher who ignored that boy was wrong, though. It wasn’t right for him to make the kid read the words when he didn’t want to.
Honestly, I’m in favor of keeping this book in the schools. Despite the language and violence, it’s a good read. And, like it or not, there was a time in history where things like in the book were common. We can’t make it go away by banning the book. We have to learn what came before in oder to move on. But really it should be the reader’s choice whether or not to read the book or get an alternate assignment, not the school’s.
Personally, I liked the book. It was one of my favorites out of all the books I have ever read for school….other than TWILIGHT of course!! =)) OF MICE AND MEN did have some crude language, and I would say that little children should not read it; but it was a really good book. I understood everything pretty much. I can understand why some parents would freak out about the language, and the N-WORD, but they should read the book before judging it. Yes, some parents have read it and don’t want their children to read it, but they also have to think about the meaning of the entire book. The crude language was just the way people talked back in that day =). My opinion on the comments people left about the book made me a little mad because I liked it, and I barely noticed the fact that there were “BAD WORDS”. I also didn’t care. It was a good book, and I think it should be kept in the reading list. Some parents just overreact, and some do have good reasons to. They just need to think before they act on something as small as that. We’re teenagers; it’s not like we don’t hear that stuff everyday
Keep it in the list…I think alot of kids would like it as much, maybe more, as I do.
<3,
cheersince6
I think we should keep the book!
Parents just get way too touchy about books and videos and discussions that teachers are REQUIRED to share with their students. Of course, it is very offensive and rude language, but it’s still truthful. At the time period, people were really like that, and it’s important that we have an understadning of the true extent of it, so that we can never be that way again. I don’t think they should tone anything down for us at this point. Highschool, I believe, should be a time to get into the more mature subjects. I’d rather be talked to like a young adult rather than a little kid. This kind of stuff prepares us for college and for life. Not everything in life is always about “building character” and “teaching self-respect”.
-GummyWormCasserole6! (wants a taco)
I don’t agree w/ the parents that want to have the book banned. The Dana Washington lady was told that her son could choose a different book to read if was really making them that uncomfortable and she obviously chose not to do that. If some1 is giving u an alternative then take it. I think they should stop trying to ruin a good learning experience/process for other children. But not every1 thinks the same. I guess that’s y people do stupid things like this……
I just keep thinking that parents are looking for any reason to start an uprising and make a name for themselves. MOST PARENTS ARE SCARED OF OUR GENERATION!!!!! Plus parents like to sue now
GNG
on OMAM, personally, i hated the book. i didnt really find all that wrong with it. it just didnt make me think. when it was over i just shut it and picked up something else. one bad thing after one bad thing after another… it just got really old.
-danumdah5
I do think the novel Of Mice and Men has a lot of foul language in it. I was surprised by the first article, that only 4 pages of the novel had no cuss words on it. I read this book when I was in eigth grade, and we had to read it aloud, but the teacher just had us say bleap when we got to a swear word. In the second article, I can’t believe that the teacher denied his concern about the language, she shouln’t be a teacher if she wants kids to read and possibly get adapted to cussing relatively. pinkpuffs502
Okay so I think that depending on the book, does it matter if we read it or not. I mean what if there were morals in the satanic bible that they are selling at the mall? I don’t want to read something that’s a.) filled with all this depressing emotion. b.) that’s pointless to our generation today. and c.) the book’s title can hurt a group of people. Notice how I said group and not (a). Today’s world has such a love for getting others into trouble. We have the Ms. Immasueyouforthiscofee, and it was ridiculous that she won. As for books, it shouldn’t offend you if it uses profane use of words. I don’t like it, but if it’s what I have to read from this secular world then I’ll read it. It shouldn’t really hurt you that bad, unless it would completely slur out God’s name, then that’s where I have a problem.. Anyways, this is my thoughts on this subject.
GNG,
Ok i do not agree with you when you said parents are scared of our generation. I think that they are scared for our generation. I think that this world is becoming more and more perverse, greedy, lustful, and unlovable. Parents want to shield us from the world. But i think it’ll end up hurting us more when we are suddenly exposed to it all at once.
GirlsnotGrey6,
I agree with your post. The words that were found “offensive” in Of Mice and Men, are used carelessly in the hallways at school. Parent’s that think their kid shouldn’t be reading the book might as well pull their kid out of high school and keep them locked up at home, because they will hear much worse words at school. So, while I thought the book was kind of pointless, there is no reason for it to be banned.
whywas6afraidof7?
I completely disagree with the opinion of the woman in the article. Yes, the language can be bad in certain parts of the book, but the reading is indeed essential to the education of children about history of our nation. the only way to prevent something is to understand it completely, not just in today’s “socially correct” way, but also in the past ways of society. I believe OMAM should remain a required reading in american schools.
-youngmoney5
I really think that this was a great book, even though that it did have foul language in it. I think that we all needc to look past just the cussing and really look at the deeper meaning of the book. We all have to understand that this was the way back then, and this is how most people talked. We have to be mature about things such as this. I also think that it was wrong that the teacher from the article wouldnt stop using the cuss words aloud when the student asked them. I think that is one thing that can really lead to some conflict. But, other than that, I thought the book was great!!!
Ugh, I hate it when this happens. At least that lady actually read the book, unlike the Harry Potter haters. I don’t think any one had never heard of that word before reading Of Mice and Men, you know? Believe ot or not, people spoke like that back then, and unfortunitly, people sometimes still speak like that. Also, if you don’t want your kid to read something, ask for another book. It’s that easy.
In response to mailboxers5, I agree that all the words in Of Mice and Men are thrown around like they’re nothing. And if people cant handle reality then, like 6teen said, go lock seclude your self from everything. Come on now people, lets be mature.
i agree that some of the language in the book is very offensive, but banning from schools is going way too far! omam is a very good, intellectual book with lots of symbolism in it. the time period of the novel is one of the only reasons that the book has offensive language in it, but all u have to do is read past that to get to the deeper meaning of the novel. if my vote ever counts, i think omam is a very good book and i think every highschooler should have to read it.
i agree with vonnykinz6 that if u r given an allternative then take it! if u feel uncomfortable with something then dont keep reading what iscausing u to feel that way!
jugaralbeisbol5
i agree with girlsnotgrey on the use of the n word. not so much with backing up over a cat though…maybe check and see if it might live first? but if you get mad over a white person sayin the n word then dont say it yourself. I think this book still needs to be read in schools because i mean were in high school were not 5 anymore.
I understand why the words were used in this book. That doesn’t make me think that they are okay or that it’s an excuse for using words like that, but I think people should be able to read over them and not dwell on them. I hope that not all the books we will read are filled with words like OMAM was. However, I think parents should know that their kids are going to have to face stuff like this all throughout their life.. especially in high school.. and I think banning the book would not really do any good. The book was filled with lots of positive lessons one can actually learn from so banning the books because of the words would probably do more harm than it would good. If a parent really has a problem with it, I think alternate reading assignments is a good and probably the only way to go.
~superchica06
GirlsNOtGrey:
I completely agree with some of the points you made. The N word is used a ton. It really not cool to say it no matter what race you are. It doesn’t justify the word if you black, and it is hypocritical when someone else of a different race says it and a black person gets upset. I hate that, and mostly because I hate hypocrisy. A LOT.
Banning the book is not the solution to the problem. No offense to anyone’s parent but if a parent can teach his/her child not to use the offensive words in the novel, I don’t think there should be a problem at all.
Another thing. People should practice giving certain words power and other words no power. I don’t take offense to the N word and I just dismiss ANYONE who would call me that as ignorant, whether it has a positive or negative connotation. People need to learn that you can’t be so sensitive and give every single word that comes out of everyone’s mouth power to take you down. It just a waste of time.
quartergirl5: I agree with you. I think that OMAM should continue to be taught in schools. Also, I think that if someone is at a mature age to read the book and not take things the wrong way, then he/she can read it. Some of the people who complain about OMAM are people who find faults in everything and im not surprised that they are criticizing the book. Yes, I do understand that life back then was rough, but we need to know our history and learn from it.
-jellybean6
I think the book is, as tchrman said, a piece of American literature. That’s just the way things we’re back then, and some of the things still are. I think people need to stop being hypocritical. I mean in the sense that people will sit around all day talking about how bad life is and what’s mean and bad, but when someone puts it in print where everyone can see, they pretend that the world is good and fantastic and have a ”Where did you get that from?!” attitude about it. I think if what is said is a realistic negativity, then yes it should continue to be taught so that the people who can face it can grow and mature. The people that can’t deal with what they know is true shouldn’t have the power to hide history.
I agree with you quartergirl5. That book has a deeper meaning than most books and I would also consider it a classic as well. Of Mice and Men should continue to be taught because of those exact reasons. Sure, there’s some bad language in that book, but it’s not like we don’t hear it every day.
pistons6101
i dont agree with quatergirl5. none of this book was offensive to me. it shoes u how things really were back in the day n the truth cant be hidden! what happened happened and u just hafta deal with it! like i always say… u cant know were ur goin if u dont know were uve been! so this book should continue to be taught! n people should grasp the deeper concept of this and nawt look at whats on the surface! it shows ignorance n ignorance is so unattractive to meeh! =)
———–>PinkPrincesz05
I agree with frogrclogr_5 I too don’t think the book should be abandoned because it really does tell alot really good lessons. i also agree them when they say tht the author wasnt just throwing in the words because they felt like seeing how far they can go with sayin the words or because they felt like sayin nigger because they cant say it out loud. the author probably felt tht censoring the words would not have the desired effect
There’s a reason that this book is being taught to high schoolers. We all should be mature enough read books that have some offensive language in it. I would understand if their child was young and their parents wouldn’t want them to read it, but seriously, we’re all young adults and some parents just don’t seem to understand that these days. If you actually pay attention to reading the book, then you wouldn’t even notice the ‘bad words’. Parents are just overeacting too much about something so little to even realize that the book is actually pretty good.
Neither of these articles challenged the context of the book just its word and tone usage. I could see that yes that is using foul language but if all we read are nice stories with happy endings its just setting us up for failure in life because Life ain’t nice. I mean that tells a story of a time when those things were accepted. It’s part of history and if we ignore that we ignore the mistakes of the past and maybe the future
Censorship in our country today has gotten very frightening. People are refusing to let us read great pieces of literature for absolute non sensical reasons. People have to be more aware of the world when it comes to this book. The language and behavior in the book coorelates to the time in history in which it took place. I don’t understand why a book like this would be banned while Rome and Juliet is a story that is probably just as vulgar if not more vulgar and is accepted widely and almost always a required book. This litereary censorship will demolish us all if were not careful.
In the first article it sounded like the guy was just ranting a little bit. “It’s important blah blah blah Nobel Prize blah blah blah you are all cretins blah blah blah.” Sure, the book is important in that it shows us that time in history, but I don’t think other peoples’ opinion is something to get all choked up over.
In the second article, I think the teacher was totally in the wrong for ignoring the student’s request. How can a teacher have the right to say a racially offensive word even when a student has asked him/her not to? Still, I think the student’s momma overreacted by getting all upset about it.
The truth that parents probably wouldn’t like to know is that we hear language like that every day. I don’t eat in the lunch room because it’s ridiculous how much some kids in there are cussing(it’s also way over crowded in there, but that’s beside the point).
open your eyes, parents
~ctg876
Yeah, i really throughly enjoyed the book. i prefer the morbid realistic endings than the sappy, lame, happy ones, as these are rather childish and pedantical in theme. However, i do think some aspects of the book could have been better. such as the charectar attitudes. some seemed rather cheesy. I do beleive that i could have written a much better book myself, because i am the best.
I kind of think this book benefits students. Most kids our age have heard all the bad words and such, but I think there’s a much deeper meaning that we should all realize. Just because someone isn’t as bright as you or anyone else doesn’t mean you have the right to off them. Everyone has their own talents and everyone is important. I think if parents thought about that, maybe they’d reconsider it instead of getting mad about language.
-elraha6
The fact is….. were in highschool and the other kids that have read or will be be reading this book are too. Okay yeah the n word. WOW!!! I’m black and it doesnt effect me that much. Its just in some ways that it is used. If there a book, especially one based on 50 or so years ago. Be lookin for the n word cuz its gonna be in there. Black people were mistreated and some still are same for the mentally handicapped. I’m perfectly fine with the book. And yes i do pretty much agree wit GirlsNotGrey.
i dont think the book should be banned. it was a good book, and there was nothing wrong with it. i dont see the point of banning the book for using a “bad” word when all around us people are yelling curse words, and is anyone banning them? no, so why ban a book?? and just like that smith guy said, the n word’s part of our history. we need to know what happened in our history, and that’s something we cant aviod.
ok i did notice tha strong language in tha book. but thats how things were back then. the author didnt put it in there 2 offend any1, it was a way of life. being tha CLASS OF 2012! YEA YEA… sorry… bt anyway we shud b mature enuf 2 handle tha level of profanity used. i dnt “like” tha language used bt ive learned to nt let it bother me. its used in movies such as the great debators, Ray, and other movies set in that time period so y shud we get all worked up abt it bein in a book. as 4 readin out loud however, i do think those words shud b skipped over. especially if a student is offended by it
responding 2 camojoe (can i call u CJ? sweet.)
i agree that we cnt censor EVERYTHING out there. literature is supposed 2 depict tha setting it takes place in. now if it wuz a lil kids story book it wud b unacceptable bt this is LITERATURE. ive had 2 learn 2 nt let it bother me
I think kids have every right to know what the world is about. and just because its in a book doesnt mean kids are going to go saying it.. in my opinion if a parent is worried about their kid maybe they didnt teach them rigth from right so well and istead of complaining about books they should be complaining abou their parenting skills. I think that mature teenagers can read a cuss word or whatever and keep reading and not think anything of it
gator5– I agree with you..books shouldnt be banned because of a word. i think people are just looking for something to complain about..its not a law not to cuss or anything and just because you read doesnt make it a part of your everyday speech.. i think adults should give us a little more credit then what they are giving us