To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee is a controversial novel that has sparked debate over whether or not it should be included in the high school curriculum. Firstly, the novel offers a valuable historical viewpoint on racism, sexism, and classism in American society during the 1930s. Secondly, the novel is an effective coming-of-age story that teaches valuable life lessons about concern and consideration, bravery, and the importance of doing the right thing. By including To Kill a Mockingbird in the curriculum, students can understand these complex issues and learn how to deal with them more comprehensively and unbiasedly. Overall, I believe that To Kill a Mockingbird is a significant and thought-provoking novel with much to offer today’s high school students.

This novel should certainly be included in the 9th-grade curriculum because this novel portrays critical themes and teachings applicable and relevant today. It offers exclusive awareness of the past and the current of society, allowing students to understand the history of racism, sexism, and classism (Macaluso 281). Further, the novel is easy to read and understand, thus being engaging and informative to students. The themes explored in the novel, including racial justice, bias, and discernment, are significant for young students to learn (Macaluso 283). The themes are still relevant, and learning and being aware of them will certainly enhance society’s welfare by building a more inclusive and impartial future. Secondly, the novel’s plot is authentic and well-structured. The story’s setting is a small town in Alabama during the 1930s and primarily explores a black man, Tom Robinson, who is falsely accused of raping a white woman (Lee). The plot is fascinating and educative. It also showcases how blacks were oppressed and treated unfairly during that time. The plot of inequality and injustice allows Lee to explore issues of race, class, gender, injustice, and inequality in an organized and expressive way. Further, the characterization is fairly remarkable. The novel’s characters are well-developed and realistic. The author proficiently employs stereotypes, heroes, victims, monsters, and innocent narrators to develop them. The main character, Scout Finch, is a young girl who is naive and unaware of the customs and biases of her community (Lee). Through her, the audience can see the world as it is, not as it is supposed to be (Shively 127). On the other hand, other characters, such as Atticus Finch and Tom Robinson, contradict Finch’s naivety by showcasing the cruel realities the Blacks face.

However, on the other hand, the novel should not be included in the high school curriculum due to its narrow portrayal of racial issues through the white protagonist’s point of view (Ako-Adjei 184). The novel presents a simplistic and stereotypical view of black culture, reinforcing the white savior trope and ignoring the complexities of black experiences in America. Moreover, the novel’s language and content may offend some students. While it is important to grapple with complex issues, including To Kill a Mockingbird in the curriculum risks perpetuating harmful ideas about race and reinforcing harmful stereotypes (Ako-Adjei 187).

In conclusion, despite the counterclaims, To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee should be included in the 9th-grade curriculum. The novel provides significant lessons that are still relevant and applicable while offering an exceptional awareness of the past and current of society (Al-Mamoory and Masoumah 18). The novel’s themes, plot, characterization, and writing style are effective for teaching young learners about the issues of injustice, inequality, racism, and classism. By including this novel in the curriculum, students will certainly gain a deeper understanding of these issues and how to fight and deal with them.