John Steinbeck wrote books critical of capitalism and the lack of safety nets and protections for workers during the Great Depression. But that's not why some northern Idaho parents don't want their 9th graders reading him; it's because the characters say "damn" a lot.

Parents in Coeur d'Alene are lobbying the school board to make the district's curriculum review committee remove "Of Mice and Men" from the required reading list for 9th graders.

"Of Mice and Men" is about two migrant laborers trying to find work and save enough money to buy their own farm. The theme of the book is brotherly love and the importance of taking care of one another.

But the 110-page book includes 102 profanities -- almost one per page -- including "bastard" and "damn." The themes of the book, which include animal abuse, adultery and murder, are also too dark for 9th graders, some parents said.

The school board is torn as to what to do. Some want to support parents raising their children without media that disagrees with the values they're teaching at home.

More From 870 AM KFLD