Student Response: There is no way to protect us from hearing or reading profanity. This language was used by poor, uneducated migrant workers. Our situation is different and we would not use this language at home or with our friends.
Parent Objection: Teaching this book is as if the school is saying profanity is okay.
Student Response: The school is not saying that profanity is okay any more than by reading about World War II and saying killing is okay.
Parent Objection: I haven't read the book, but I think it's too rough.
Student Response: Life during the Depression was rough. We see rougher things on TV or even in P.E. class, but there are many examples of kindness, love and humanity, too. Reasd it yourself - you'll see.
Parent Objection: I don't like John Steinbeck. He wrote about a tough element in life.
Student Response: John Steinbeck wrote about people with real weaknesses and strengths, but his descriptions of how tough life is makes us see how important it is for us to trust and rely on each other
I also found an essay written by a future teacher (now probably a teacher). The essay is titled "Censorship and the Student Writer", and the author creates a lesson plan to teach her class about censorship. Some of the assignments include; discussing public and private censorship, studying song lyrics from a controversial song (students had to bring in a censored version of the song if they wanted to play it in class), and debating whether or not censorship has a place in America's society.
I also found this video interesting, it provides an overview of a censorship challenge in the high school setting and one of the ways that it can play out.
Has anyone read this novel? Can you think of reasons why it should or shouldn't be banned?
