Original subtitles

Why? What happened?

I found out in school today that Huckleberry Finn is not on the school's

accepted reading list. It's banned.

Banned? I know the school board's been talking about this, but I never dreamed

they'd dare to do it.

You know, I never thought reading a book would be something I'd have to fight

for. But it's also the story of America's journey from innocence to

What would we do, baby, without us?

What would we do, baby, without us?

And there ain't no nothing, we can't love each other through.

What would we do, baby, without us?

What are you reading, Andy?

Little Internet Could.

Do you think it'll be banned?

I don't know, but if I were you, I'd read fast.

What does banned mean?

It means that a certain authority decides that a certain piece of material

be used at a certain place or time.

What does banned mean?

Hey, how you doing, Annie?

What's all that?

This, Jen, is your defense.

Now, when you and Mom and Dad walk into Dr. Hewitt's office tomorrow, I want you

to have every legal fact...

Argument and precedent at your disposal.

Now, you can either use these books to brilliantly articulate your position or

failing that, you can simply drop them on Dr.

Hewitt's head.

What does banned mean?

You keep saying that. Can you please explain it to him? Yeah, yeah. Well,

banned or banning or to ban comes from the Germanic root

banan.

meaning to command.

But you can simply think of it as a legal prohibition, a censure, a

condemnation.

Now I don't know what ban means.

How do you think I feel?

I'll never know.

You know, Jen, I gotta tell you, I really admire the way you've handled

yourself. I mean, your sensitivity, your intelligence, your strength of

character over the last few days.

Thank you, Alex.

I mean, when I look at you, I see someone who's got a great future.

Someone who could do anything they set out to do.

Jen, I guess what I'm trying to say is this.

Someday, you could even work for me.

Oh, joy.

Of course, you'd have to start in the mailroom, you know, minimum wage. But

you'd have Sundays and legal holidays off. And Christmas time, you come to my

house for eggnog.

Thank you, Alex. It makes it all worthwhile.

But I've got to admit, I'm still a little nervous about going to see Dr.

tomorrow. What if she suspends me?

Suspend her right back.

I'm serious, Alex. I know, I know, I know. Look, hey, you know, even if you

suspended, you still got the job with me, right?

Of course, with the suspension, you're going to have to start on the loading

dock.

I understand.

But I reckon I got to light out for the territory ahead of the rest, because

Aunt Sally, she's going to adopt me and civilize me, and I can't stand it. I've

been there before.

Val, is that you?

What are you doing?

I'm reading.

When did you learn how?

When I found out that Cosmopolitan magazine was banned in certain places, I

became enraged.

Then I saw Huckleberry Finn sitting on the coffee table, and I said to myself,

what better way to show Jennifer my support?

So I picked it up, and I started reading, and you know what?

I love it.

I love reading. I'm going to teach Nick how to read.

Oh, Jen, I'm really looking forward to that meeting with your principal. We've

got some very persuasive arguments we want her to hear.

I'm really glad you guys are coming with me tomorrow.

Well, we wouldn't have it any other way. We're all in this together.

You know, maybe you should get to bed early tonight, honey. You've got a big

tomorrow. I'm too nervous to sleep.

Want me to read to you?

Well, I don't know what your principal is like, but I hope you're ready for

Hewitt the Hun.

She takes no prisoners.

Oh, don't worry, Jen. I'm not afraid.

Good morning, Mr. and Mrs. Keaton.

Jennifer, this is Mr. Carter, the superintendent of schools. Hello there.

believe you know Mr. Flaherty. Oh, there's Mr. Flaherty. Good morning.

Good to see you. Good morning.

Would anyone like anything to drink?

No, thank you.

Jennifer, whiskey, please.

Jen,

please, let me handle this.

Uh, Dr. Hewitt. Sit down, Mr. Keaton. Yes, right away.

Now, this is the situation as I see it. There is a policy in this district

passed by our Board of Education which states that certain books are

unacceptable for our children of high school age.

Huckleberry Finn is among them.

Therefore, Jennifer's book report is unacceptable.

Dr. Hewitt, have you ever read the book? Whether I've read Huckleberry Finn is

not the issue. The question is whether it's appropriate for Jennifer.

What right do you have to decide what's appropriate reading material for our

daughter? Personally, I find that tremendously offensive.

It's not Dr.

Hewitt's decision, Mrs. Keaton. It's the decision of the school board.

Then I am offended by the school board.

Mrs. Keaton, the state requires us to teach certain specifics in the basic

curriculum.

But how those subjects are taught and what textbooks are used are all left up

the individual school boards, and with good reason, because the school boards

represent the values of the people in the community. What you have to

is that it is our job to nurture, guide, and protect these children. But just

what is it that you're protecting them from? I mean, it seems to me that the

best thing that a school can do is teach children that moral questions are

complex, that in a democratic society, different... people have different

As a teacher, I've always felt that freedom of speech, free expression is an

essential part of a good education.

Of course, that's just my opinion. I could be wrong.

But that goes against everything you've ever taught me. You're not wrong.

But he is a teacher in this school district.

Mr. Flaherty.

Sorry, Jen.

Well, we're certainly not going to let this go unchallenged. We're talking

the First Amendment here.

Then I suggest you contact a lawyer, Mr. Keaton. Believe me, we intend to.

We intend to as well.

Yeah, well, we intend to more than you intend to.

Well, I got a good going over in the morning from old Miss Watson on account

my clothes.

But the widow, she didn't scold, but only cleaned off the grease and clay and

looked so sorry that I thought I would behave a while if I could.

Your turn, Nick.

Then Miss Watson, she took me in the closet and prayed, but nothing come of

Yeah, I'm lucky I got a short one.

Back to you, Mal.

She told me to pray every day, and whatever I asked for, I would get.

But it weren't so.

I, uh, that's, uh, my sentence.

Oh, I'm sorry, honey.

But it weren't so.

Just back from Evelyn Wood?

Alex, give us a break. You're always criticizing me and Nick for not being

cultured. Why, hey, can't do that anymore, huh?

No, you can't, because we're reading the classics.

You guys should read War and Peace next.

I'll never see either of you again.

Hello?

Yeah, sure. Yeah, just a minute, please.

Hey, Jen?

Jen, it's Bill Gottfried from the Leland Herald.

Tell him I'm not in.

You got it.

Hello? Hi, I'm sorry.

She says she's not in.

Hey, Jan. We've been real anxious to talk to you.

No, thanks, Alex. In the past week, I've done interviews with every newspaper in

Ohio. They don't know when to stop.

I didn't realize book banning was everybody's favorite subject.

Jan?

Hello.

Look, I'm kind of tired of talking about this, okay?

Can't you understand that?

We've been over this a thousand times.

Okay.

We'll see you Saturday, Grandma.

Well, she won't be bothering us anymore.

I don't know what's going on. Suddenly my life has turned upside down.

Mr. Flaherty didn't turn out to be who I believed he was.

I thought he was on my side, but the minute we stepped into Dr.

Hewitt's office, he just went down.

That's too bad.

All my friends want to talk to me about is failing in English, book banning, and

what I'm going to do when I'm suspended.

Oh, Jen, Jen.

I'd like you to meet your lawyer, Susan White.

Susan, our daughter, Jennifer Keaton. Hello.

Susan's mother was at Berkeley with your father and me.

Actually, she was born in the commune that we all lived on together.

We used to call her Raindrop.

Meow.

She's at the law firm of Hughes, Frank and McGregor, and she's offered to give

us some advice on how to deal with the school board.

Jennifer, I am so pleased to meet you. You know, I'm truly impressed by the

stand you've taken.

It's a real thrill to meet someone of your generation who's interested in

something other than just maintaining the status quo so they can make a fast

buck.

You don't even know me.

I've got a sixth sense about these things.

I guess you're working for free at Hughes, Frank, and McGregor.

You know, raindrop?

Susan White, our son, Alex Keaton.

Aren't genetics wild?

And this is our daughter, Mallory, and her, well, Nick.

Oh, please, have a seat.

Susan, you too, Jen. Now, basically, what Susan is planning to do is...

Let us know what our rights are. Tell us how to handle ourselves at the school

board meeting tomorrow.

And if necessary, help us out if this comes to a court challenge.

Now, Jennifer, I know you've been through a lot, but it would really help

over what your role is going to be at the meeting.

You've become the symbol for this fight, and there are going to be a lot of

people there looking for you and waiting to hear what you have to say.

Really, I was hoping my part was over.

Oh, no.

I'm afraid it's just the beginning.

May I remind you to try to keep your remarks short and to the point.

Mrs. Humler, I believe you're next.

My son is a student in Mrs.

Mitchell's English class, and I personally read the textbook they use.

I couldn't believe some of the language.

And no one can tell me that our children can't get a good education without

reading words like...

Well, I can't even say those words, but my son sure can now that he's read that

book. Now, that's not the point.

Your son probably knew those words before he read the book. Now, listen,

I don't know what goes on in your house, but no son of mine uses... Order!

Everybody will get a chance, but we need order.

We won't tolerate this crosstalk.

It's going to be a long night.

I'd like to think that we were sending our daughter to a school that would

her to read any book that's in the public library.

I mean, otherwise, what kind of message are we sending to our kids?

Are we saying that they can't be as open -minded in the school as they can

outside the schoolhouse doors?

Elise, I was going to make that point.

Never mind.

The point is, I have personally reviewed all of the books in question.

Obviously, many of them have passed muster with the board.

you come off deciding what passes muster? Well, excuse me, but I have a Ph

in education.

Furthermore, the people of this community voted for me because they

was qualified to make these decisions.

Hey, I voted for you, but I also voted for Richard Nixon.

Is that funny?

I don't think that's funny.

When a certain girl in my class, who shall remain nameless,

Jennifer Keaton.

Did her book report on Huckleberry Finn?

I was really behind her.

I mean, I want to be a writer one day. And I may not be the best writer in the

world, but I try.

And I'd like to think the people in my own high school could read what I write.

The book I'm writing now is called Smart Women, Foolish Outfits.

I'd like to read that after Huckleberry Finn.

There are so many communities across this country that have been torn asunder

this issue. And as a lawyer, I've seen friends and neighbors get involved in

legal mudslinging that completely obliterates the real issues at hand,

freedom of thought and freedom of speech.

Damn, everyone's saying what I was going to say.

Let's take a look at one of the seminal cases in this area, Tarrington v. Thomas

Jefferson High School. Now, in this case, Justice Turner wrote that if there

was...

Justice McNamara wrote the majority opinion in that case. Justice Turner

concurring.

Excuse me, just for a second. I have a big bug crawling on me.

Do you want to take over?

And so, in Harrison versus the Lake Erie School District, the court affirmed,

albeit with serious reservations, the doctrine stated in the Kramer case.

So, any questions?

Is your head getting bigger?

Other places do seem so cramped up and smothery, but a raft don't. You feel

mighty free and easy and comfortable on a raft.

This book is just too beautiful to ban.

My own daughter.

At least I've got Hello, I'm Stephen Keaton left.

Hello, I'm Stephen Keaton.

Perhaps a recap of this evening's better points would be in order now.

A school has rules and regulations which might not stand up elsewhere, but are

necessary to education. As in the recent Hazelwood decision, where the Supreme

Court held up that a school administration has the right to censor

newspapers.

If we can require our children to do homework, to dress in a certain manner,

be in class for a certain period of time, then we can certainly advise them

what to read.

We always hear in school that we young people are the future of America.

Well, if we're going to be the future of America, we're going to have to know

about our past.

And not just the glorious stuff we see in movies or read in some history books,

but the true story.

What people thought, what they felt, why they liked each other, and even why

they hated each other.

And there's no better way to learn that than through great literature.

If you take that away, what are we left with?

Here.

Well, I'd like to thank you all for coming.

Be assured that all opinions will be taken into consideration.

If there are no further comments... Mr. Carter, I have something to say.

Mr. Flaherty?

I've been a teacher now for six years at Harding High School.

When this book banning rule went into effect, I upheld it because it was in my

job contract to do so.

Although, philosophically, it goes against everything I stand for.

But when I saw one of my students stand up for what she believed was right,

I thought to myself, what the hell? hell is wrong with you, Flaherty? You're an

English teacher. You love books. And you are not just going to let this happen.

I want the board to know. I want Dr. Hewitt to know that I am willing to risk

job to fight for what I believe is right.

And I have to thank one of my students, who shall remain nameless, Jennifer

Keaton, for giving me the courage to stand up and do what I should have done

as soon as this whole thing started.

Thank you, Jennifer.

I'm a teacher.

And that should mean something.

And the

little

engine looked at the hill and said, I think I can.

I think.

I can.

I think I can.

This is getting pretty exciting. I wonder what happens next.

He gets up the hill, Nick.

Hey, so how did it go, Andy? Did you have a good time with Nick?

Yeah.

Nick's reading much better, Dad. When he gets to a word he doesn't know, he

sounds it out.

Yeah, that's a good tip.

Honey, why don't you go on up and get ready for bed? We'll be up to tuck you

in a minute.

Okay? Here, Uncle Nick.

Hey, thanks.

Night, buddy.

So, uh, how's your meeting?

Oh, great. You should have heard Jennifer. She was eloquent and

Oh, Jen, I didn't know you were such a rebel, huh? You're just like James Dean,

but, uh, girl.

Oh, God.

I haven't read Huckleberry Finn in two hours.

Shame on me. Come on, Nick. Do you remember where we left off? Oh, I don't

babe. Now I'm reading two books at once.

Well, Jan, you're off to a great start as an activist.

No, I think I'm in a retired debt. I can't do this again.

I can't believe I even did what I did.

I had no idea it would be so hard.

That's what making a commitment's all about.

And no matter how difficult it is or how tough it gets, you gotta stand there

and stand up for what you believe in. You know that.

Good news!

The school board decided there was enough opposition to further scrutinize

banning issue and put it to a referendum.

That's great news, Susan.

Good news!

The school board decided there's enough opposition to further scrutinize the

banning issue and put it to a referendum.

I told them first.

Sure, you ran two red lights to get here.

Why do I scare you, Alex? You don't scare me, raindrop.

Okay, I have had it. All right. You get over here.

Alex, raindrop, raindrop, please.

Good news.

We heard.

What do you hear? The school board's reconsidering and there's going to be a

referendum. Really? I didn't hear that. That is good news.

What I came to say is that a good number of my colleagues on the faculty at

Harding have decided to band together and buck the administration.

We're walking out until your suspension is revoked.

Oh, Flaherty, you're all right.

Thank you, Mr. Flaherty.

You've always been my favorite teacher.

We're a good team. We made a great first step, but there's a long fight ahead of

us. So we have to make sure we stick together.

We could hear them yelling and barking at each other all up and down the bank.

Till we were so far away, the sounds got dim and died out.

And when we stepped onto the raft, I says, Now, old Jim, you're a free man

again. And I bet you won't ever be a slave no more.

Chug, chug, chug.

Puff, puff, puff.

The little train rumbled over the tracks.

She was a happy train.

Watch

the frog.

San Diego's home for comedy has more laughs than ever. Touche.

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Good dog.

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