Should "Huckleberry Finn" be taught in High Schools?

"At the heart of Huckleberry Finn lies a story about real human figures with genuine moral and ethical problems and decisions..." (Lauriat 26). This statement reveals the true nature of Twain's controversial novel by looking at the deeper messages of the book. This novel is a hot debate topic in any English classroom because many find it hard to look past the few racist epithets that are repeated and analyze the issues that the author, Mark …

…blacks. A superficial look at the book makes people immediately object to it, but a deeper understanding of Twain's overall purpose will help high school students understand the basis of prejudice as well as the understand the "various ways" in which to overcome it. Through the growth and maturity of the characters found within the novel, Twain's purpose of satirizing society has been affirmed in that it ultimately helps students learn to discover racial equality.