Two classic American novels, “Of Mice and Men” and “To Kill a Mockingbird,” are being removed from the Welsh General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) curriculum due to concerns about racism and the use of racial slurs. This decision affects students beginning their studies in September 2025.
“Of Mice and Men,” published in 1937, follows two migrant workers during the Great Depression. While the novel depicts their shared dream of owning land, it also includes racial slurs and derogatory language targeting African-American characters. “To Kill a Mockingbird,” published in 1960, is set in the racially segregated South and recounts the story of a young girl whose father defends a Black man falsely accused of rape. Despite exploring themes of racism and injustice, the novel also contains racial slurs.
Wales’ largest exam board made the decision to exclude both novels from its new English Language and Literature syllabus. The Children’s Commissioner for Wales, speaking to the BBC, stated that “Of Mice and Men” had caused “psychological and emotional” harm to some Black children. A Black former student who studied “To Kill a Mockingbird” echoed these concerns, describing the racial language as containing “words that should not be said in this day and age.” The Commissioner defended the decision, emphasizing that it was about safeguarding children’s well-being and not censorship.
However, this decision has drawn criticism. Natasha Asghar, a Welsh Conservative politician, argued against the ban, suggesting that the novels should be taught within their historical context to help students understand the prevalence and harm of past prejudices. She believes censorship prevents young people from confronting and understanding these issues.
This isn’t the first time such a decision has been made. In 2014, a U.K. exam board removed “Of Mice and Men” following a call for more British works to be included in the curriculum. The current debate highlights the ongoing tension between preserving literary classics and protecting the well-being of students in the classroom.