Before I start, can I make it clear that I love this novel and recognise Steinbeck's novels as genius. However, having taught it ad infinitum over the years, my love has waned slightly - in short, it bores me to death now, of course.
Like many schools who had 20 years worth of OMAM resources sitting in our cupboards, when Gove banned it from the GCSE syllabus, we simply started teaching it to Year 9 instead.
This year I asked if I could do something else (To Kill a Mockingbird/The Pearl?) on grounds of my own personal boredom. I was overruled and I understand why - admin reasons but good ones.
However, halfway through teaching it to Year 9, I have also come to the conclusion that it is actually inappropriate for this age group. Firstly, some of the 1930s American slang about brothels and sexual encounters etc can make reading it aloud in class almost impenetrable, secondly do I really want to start discussing whorehouses etc with 13 year olds, thirdly the explicit racial language can be difficult with that age group - particularly if they come from backgrounds where racist views are held as this seems to legitimise the language for them.
Of course, I am using the novel and events in the novel to discuss misogyny and racism and prejudice. Of course I'm using the context of the novel to make them aware of these things further etc etc. But, to be honest, they are 13 - there's only so much maturity you can expect at that age.
Personally, I feel that there are so many great texts out there that might be more suitable for raising these kind of issues with this age group (Noughts and Crosses?).
I think I am going to try and stamp my feet next year and plead to teach something else.
Does anyone else have any thoughts on this or suggestions of other texts?