Analysis Of Laura Murphys Beloved - 1609 Words

Laura Murphy is a member of the Lake Braddock Secondary School Parent-Teacher-Student Association in Fairfax Station, Virginia. Murphy is advocating for students at the high school to not read a particular novel. The novel that she is challenging happens to be the Pulitzer Prize winner Beloved by Toni Morrison. Murphy is not only challenging the book, but is also wanting to ban Beloved. In regards to future literature, â€Å"new polices are adopted for books assigned† that might have objectionable content. Murphy stated that this challenge started with her eldest son having to read this novel for his AP-English class in high school. Her son had nightmares after reading Beloved and he even states that, â€Å"It was disgusting and gross, It was†¦show more content†¦Within college classes, the teachers and students have the ability to talk more about controversial topics that are not allowed within the high school classes. Parents understand that when their children go to college, they will be exposed to more topics that they have yet to hear about. Parents do not expect the same from a high school classroom. Lake Braddock English departments officials sent a letter to Murphy stating that â€Å"society must address troubles the world faces† (The Washington Post - Shapiro). The letter also mentioned that, â€Å" reading and studying books that expose us, imaginatively and safely, to that trouble steels our souls to pull us through our own hard times and leads us to a greater empathy for the plight of our fellow human beings† (The Washington Post - Shapiro). It took two full seasons to pass by before Murphy’s challenge reached the school board. Unfortunately the board voted 6-2 against hearing her case and the Superintendent Jack D. Dale decided to not remove Beloved from the AP English curriculum (The Washington Post - Shapiro). The school that Murphy’s son was attending did have an option to opt out of books assigned in the classroom if they find the material to be uncomfortable for them to read, but Murphy wants this option to be â€Å"stricter† (The Washington Post - Shapiro) for books containing mature themes and content such as the novel Beloved. Murphy has brought much attention to