The Banning of the Absolutely True Diary of a Part Time Indian

Tana Robinson

English I

Argumentative Essay

1/20/2015

The Banning of The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian

        Imagine an author writing a book that many kids could understand and actually relate to. Would you let your teen read that book if it maybe used swear words and/or sexual innuendo? Well, that’s the concern that many school districts are handling. Many parents are not only telling their teens aren’t allowed to read the book, but actually going in front of the school board and having the book banned in these school districts. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian should not be banned because many teens have home lives that are relatable, it shows how many teens think and act, and it introduces the hardships of high school, however it should give some forewarning about its content.

        Many teens can relate to some of the characters’ lives, like Rowdy and Jr. Rowdy gets beat for no reason. Some kids have to deal with that, unfortunately. Jr. changes schools and gets excluded by many of the rez residents. Most kids that transfer to new schools deal with that. “I spoke to sixty students, who’d come from sixteen different districts, and had survived depression, attempted suicide, gang warfare, sexual and physical abuse, absentee parents, poverty, racism and learning disabilities in order to graduate.” (Alexie, Sherman). A lot of the struggles listed were a part of Alexie’s novel. These, unfortunately, are a part of most teens’ home lives, and they are huge challenges to overcome for these teens.

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        Another quote that I feel really captured the way some kids have to deal with their everyday lives was:

“A young woman recalled the terrible moment when indifferent school administrators told her that that she couldn’t possibly be a teen mother and finish high school. So they suggested she get a General Education Degree (GED) and move on with her life. But, after taking a practice test, she realized the GED was far too easy for her, so she transferred to that alternative high school, and is now the mother of a three-year old and a high school graduate soon to attend college.” (Alexie, Sherman).

This book may contain vulgarities but it still gives a good life lesson on the way society and adults in society are.

One of the school districts trying to rid the curriculum of this book is the West Valley School District in Washington. “Challenged at the West Valley School District (WA) because some parents found the sexual references and profanity novel inappropriate for high school students.” (Marshall University Libraries). Kids don’t always act the way they do around their parents. Most teens when they’re around their friends, act completely different. Especially high school students. High school students use profanity, unless they’re the perfect teen, which is impossible because no one is perfect. Some parents would be surprised about their children and their behaviors. Getting back on point, profanity in books doesn’t bother a lot of teens, and it shouldn’t bother parents because it’s teaching them how to deal with it.