The Controversy Over Huckleberry Finn
Mark Twain once said, “That is just the way with some people. They get down on a thing they don’t know nothing about it,” (Twain). Twain wrote this quote in his famous book, titled “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn”. This novel has become one of the most controversial issues among high schools across the U.S. Many educators, literary critics, and other people believe it should be banned from the high school curriculum, predominantly because of the excessive use of the obscene word “nigger”. However, many believe the novel is an American classic and that it is extremely valuable to education, disregarding the ‘n’ word. “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” by Mark Twain is a historically valuable novel, …show more content…
A good education comes from being challenged, and testing oneself. Joan DelFattore, the author of the article “Huck Finn, Hostile? Hardly.” agrees. DelFattore claims, “In reality, being required to confront difficult, embarrassing, and controversial matters and learn how to deal with them does not constitute a hostile learning environment. It constitutes education.” Huckleberry Finn supports the controversial idea that situations that can sometimes be uncomfortable, can be a great learning opportunity. A classroom setting is the best setting to learn about ideas that may be controversial, like Huckleberry Finn. Christina Beck, the author of an article titled, “Why a Virginia School Considers Banning Two American Classics” believes an efficient way to teach and to learn is by encountering these difficult discussions that may not be held in any other setting. Beck states, “The only way to teach these books properly is to be uncomfortable, that is why these books should not be banned.” A teacher's’ responsibility is to educate, even if the topic they are teaching is disagreed upon by many students. The question for teachers is not if Huckleberry Finn should or should not be taught; the question is how can it be taught in the right way? Beck claims, "As teachers, if we want a better racial future in this country, we have to guide the conversation better,” (Beck). Beck is explaining that if America wants to see a change in society in the future, teachers need to discuss the realities of racism. Not only should “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” be kept in the high school curriculum because it challenges and helps education, it is also because it is an extremely significant novel in American
Mark Twain once said, “That is just the way with some people. They get down on a thing they don’t know nothing about it,” (Twain). Twain wrote this quote in his famous book, titled “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn”. This novel has become one of the most controversial issues among high schools across the U.S. Many educators, literary critics, and other people believe it should be banned from the high school curriculum, predominantly because of the excessive use of the obscene word “nigger”. However, many believe the novel is an American classic and that it is extremely valuable to education, disregarding the ‘n’ word. “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” by Mark Twain is a historically valuable novel, …show more content…
A good education comes from being challenged, and testing oneself. Joan DelFattore, the author of the article “Huck Finn, Hostile? Hardly.” agrees. DelFattore claims, “In reality, being required to confront difficult, embarrassing, and controversial matters and learn how to deal with them does not constitute a hostile learning environment. It constitutes education.” Huckleberry Finn supports the controversial idea that situations that can sometimes be uncomfortable, can be a great learning opportunity. A classroom setting is the best setting to learn about ideas that may be controversial, like Huckleberry Finn. Christina Beck, the author of an article titled, “Why a Virginia School Considers Banning Two American Classics” believes an efficient way to teach and to learn is by encountering these difficult discussions that may not be held in any other setting. Beck states, “The only way to teach these books properly is to be uncomfortable, that is why these books should not be banned.” A teacher's’ responsibility is to educate, even if the topic they are teaching is disagreed upon by many students. The question for teachers is not if Huckleberry Finn should or should not be taught; the question is how can it be taught in the right way? Beck claims, "As teachers, if we want a better racial future in this country, we have to guide the conversation better,” (Beck). Beck is explaining that if America wants to see a change in society in the future, teachers need to discuss the realities of racism. Not only should “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” be kept in the high school curriculum because it challenges and helps education, it is also because it is an extremely significant novel in American