Regarding the article, “Coeur d’Alene school may ban ‘Of Mice and Men’?”: Recent news items suggesting that school libraries of pre-university students should be edited is probably justified. The purpose of these school libraries is education, not general reading as in a public library.
The so-called classics by the latter-day “kitchen sink” authors are lauded, not for their ingenious plots or story lines, but for their daring use of “shop floor language.” Their contribution to great literature is minimal. In my opinion, “The Catcher in The Rye” is a depressing, boring read and not at all instructive regarding the use of English.
If I were an English teacher, I would encourage my students to read the works of P.J. Wodehouse (I could name others). His books are funny, witty and amusing and written in impeccable English. Using these as “required reading” would lift learning English from a chore to a delight.
Roger Sayer
Mukilteo
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