Huck Finn Gets Some Changes

[xomanadaxo]

The variety of love/hate relationships with these novels is exactly why they should be taught in schools. A student who hates the Great Gatsby may fall in love with Huck Finn...but may have missed out on a window of opportunity if books aren't taught. I'm a big fan of variety in literature, particularly at the high school level.

FWIW, I graduated from a Catholic high school. English was the only class I had that was actually taught by a nun. When we read Huck Finn aloud in class (because the way it's written is truly best understood when read aloud), my teacher would usually just say "N" in place of the "n-word." I think the way it is used in Huck Finn is important to understanding the cultural context of the novel. If I remember correctly (it's been a few years), racism and the way African Americans are treated in the text is a major theme of the novel.

I won't jump into the debate about using the "n-word" in rap music or other contexts, but in this case I will argue that it should be kept in the novel in order to preserve the original meaning of the text...as long as students understand how and why Twain used it and that it is not acceptable to use in most situations in today's society.