COEUR d'ALENE - Restrictions could be placed on the use of a popular piece of American literature in Coeur d'Alene School District classrooms.

The school board heard a recommendation Monday that John Steinbeck's "Of Mice and Men" should be pulled from the list of books ninth-grade teachers can select as required reading for students. An ad-hoc curriculum committee tasked with reviewing literature on school district reading lists made the recommendation, which instead allows use of Steinbeck's 1937 novella for voluntary small group classroom study only.

"Too much profanity. Negative," state the minutes of the April 22 committee meeting when the recommendation was formed.

Trustee Tom Hamilton said he was disappointed to see the proposal. He said his daughter read "Of Mice and Men" in seventh grade, prompting interesting, valuable family conversations.

Lake City High School teacher Kirsten Pomerantz told the board that the novella about displaced migrant ranch hands during the Great Depression is one that keeps her students engaged.

"It's relevant," Pomerantz said.

Pomerantz said she believes high school freshmen can relate to the book's theme of loneliness.

The kids are shocked to hear the language used by the migrant farm workers, she said, and in turn, that opens a classroom dialogue.

Trustee Tom Hearn said he has a problem with placing restrictions on a book that was written 78 years ago and has been on district required reading lists since 2002.

"It's true, the novel is gritty ... there are some dark themes," Hearn said.

But it deals with important issues like poverty and racism, he added: "It's a very powerful piece of literature - a timeless classic."

Trustee DaveEubanks, a non-voting member of the committee that included several community members, said the recommendation was a compromise. There were strong feelings on both sides, he said.

Eubanks said the book does contain a lot of profanity.

"It wasn't just cussing. There were a lot of racial slurs," he said.

Hearn reminded the board that the school district does have an opt-out policy for parents who do not want their children to read books on the required reading lists.

Trustee Christa Hazel said while she appreciates the work of the committee, she feels the book is an American classic with educational value, which is why teachers like to use it in the classroom.

Hazel and Hearn each said they would prefer to defer to the professional judgment of teachers in deciding when to assign certain books.

"But for this committee, we wouldn't be having this discussion. I don't know that we've had parents complaining like we have other times," Hazel said.

"Of Mice and Men" is on the American Library Association's list of "most challenged books."

In accordance with school district policy, "Of Mice and Men" and four books on which the committee placed no restrictions will go through a 30-day public comment period. Copies of the books will be available to members of the public at the district office during normal business hours.

The board is expected to decide in June whether to accept the committee's recommendation.