'To Kill A Mockingbird' Pulled From Mississippi School Over 'Uncomfortable' Subject Matter

Harper Lee's "To Kill A Mockingbird" was removed from the 8th-grade curriculum Thursday at a Biloxi, Mississippi, school. Administrators from the Biloxi School District worked in conjunction with the Biloxi Junior High School's English department to remove the classic novel because it "makes people uncomfortable," according to reports.

Several complaints emerged about the book's content, citing the language as a reason for concern. Administration and department heads also determined that the lesson's conveyed within Lee's 1960 novel set in Alabama during the Great Depression can be taught through other books, which led the school to cycle it out of its curriculum — a change that is said to occur periodically.

"There are many resources and materials that are available to teach state academic standards to our students," Arthur McMillan, the superintendent for the Biloxi School District, told the Sun Herald Thursday. "These resources may change periodically. We always strive to do what is best for our students and staff to continue to perform at the highest level."

"To Kill A Mockingbird" was previously an integral part of the 8th-grade curriculum. Students were required to partake in several formative and summative assessments on the book, including an argumentative essay.

"Students will read To Kill a Mockingbird and continue to investigate the theme of personal choices, specifically the themes of the Golden Rule and Taking a Stand," the website reads. "Students will work on character development of the main character in preparation for an end of unit argumentative essay that incorporates both thematic and character elements."

The book will still be available at all Biloxi school libraries.

Some Twitter users were baffled by the sudden curriculum change. Many considered the modification to be "sad" because the book is "too important." Several echoed that books like "To Kill A Mockingbird" are essential because of the "hatred and racism" embedded in American society. Others argued that the book should remain in school classrooms because of the teachable lessons.

"To Kill A Mockingbird" has appeared on the curriculum lists in classrooms nationwide for years. The Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, however, has remained among the top banned books in school districts because of content dealing with rape and racial inequality.

Many have requested for the removal and modification of particular words in the book. Several opposers of the book include parents, teachers, school administrators and advocacy groups who have complained the themes aren't appropriate for minors, PBS' News Hour reported in February 2016. The book has been challenged since 1977, which is 17 years after it was originally published.

"Being uncomfortable with history is not means to change it," said Chris Sergel, vice president of Dramatic Publishing, according to PBS' News Hour. "People need to figure out how to confront issues."

Biloxi Junior High School isn't the only school to recently pull "To Kill A Mockingbird." Accomack County in Virginia removed it in December 2016, along with Mark Twain's "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn." The popular books about racial division in the Deep South were suspended from the county's teaching curriculum and school libraries after a parent reportedly made a complaint about the racist language used by the authors.