Most West High students know the story of Harper Lee's classic and controversial tale of broiling racism in a small Alabama town, "To Kill a Mockingbird." The Pulitzer-winning novel is required reading in West classrooms.
But its content is apparently too much for their stage.
West principal Jim Bailey last week canceled the school's planned production of "To Kill a Mockingbird."
Bailey said he didn't learn of the play's selection until after the first round of auditions. According to school policy, Bailey should have reviewed the play months ago and denied or approved it then, he said.
Troubled by the play's use of the word "nigger," Bailey asked teacher and drama adviser David Block if they could censor out that word. Block said no.
"I didn't even go into rape, murder, all the other things in the play," Bailey said. "I said, 'What preliminary things have been done to prepare our community, our school, and our kids for a play like this?' He said, 'Nothing.'
"And I said, 'We're not going to put the play on.' "
