I am afraid that I do not totally understand the debate over
the teaching of Huck Finn.  If we are not willing to deal with
controversy in a democratic society's educational institutions,
pray tell, where are these matters to be dealt with.  Ignoring an
issue in the long run inflames the issue even more.  I have taught
Huck Finn for many years in a South Carolina high school.  Even
though a third of my class might be black, I have not had a single
problem.  The problem is not so much with young people as with
adults.  Since many blacks use the "n" word with other blacks are
not offended, they can comprehend how people in the 1840's, the time
frame of the novel itself, might use the term without prejedice
intended.  It might also be pointed out that there are many black
authors who use the "n" word in poems, short stories, and novels
today.  Would we want those books banned because of that?  We need to be
honest with our students to let them know that prejudices of various
kinds exists, has existed in the past, and unfortunately will always
exist.  Students must also be told that this situation can be reduced
with understanding, cooperation, and education to the beauty of
differeces not the fear of those differences.  I hope that I am making
sense, because I know that one can teach Huck Finn without problems
and without repression.

Nick Huffman