Biloxi, Mississippi, Public Schools banned–and then a few days later–and unbanned To Kill a Mockingbird from being taught to eighth graders. The reason given for the ban is that some of the language in the Pulizer Prize-winning novel makes people uncomfortable.
This novel, published more than 60 years ago, concerns racism and discrimination during the 1930’s in a fictional Alabama town.
Mockingbird has been banned many times in the past, and once again joined a list of children’s books banned at one time or another. They include
–for language: Huckleberry Finn, Junie B. Jones and the Stupid, Smelly Bus
–for poor grammar: the Junie B. Jones series
–for religious insensitivity: A Wrinkle in Time
–for magic: the Harry Potter series
–for child nudity: In the Night Kitchen
–for potty humor: Captain Underpants
–for exploring puberty: many Judy Blume books
Ironically, as soon as a book is banned, many children read it on their own without the guidance of teachers and without discussion of its controversial aspects, thus defeating the purpose of the ban. Go figure.
comicphonics for early readers 