Is the influence that The Catcher of the Rye has on adolescents positive or negative?

This is a question that is largely up to personal opinion
and therefore very difficult to prove with concrete evidence.  I tend to be on the side
that The Catcher in the Rye is generally more of a positive
influence than a negative one.

First, students tend to
immediately like and personally relate to the novel's protagonist.  As a result they are
interested in the story.  This book seems more "real" to many students than most classic
literature.  Second, despite the ongoing debate that Holden's language and life outlook
are detrimental to teenagers minds and attitudes, I would maintain that most students
are surrounded by similar language and attitudes on a daily basis, at school.  The fact
that this is a book somehow provides an appropriate basis for discussions which might
otherwise seem taboo in a high school classroom.  As a teacher, I enjoy talking about
real life and debating the "hard questions" but have a difficult time justifying the
relevance of such discussions unless they are connected to literature.  This book
directly connects life and literature for many
students.

Finally, in my opinion, any book that students
largely enjoy and one which gets them excited about reading (in any way) is inherently
more positive than negative.  Teachers today are dealing with a large struggle to keep
kids interested in a skill and practice that seems to be becoming "outdated."  This
book's honesty and directness is refreshing and surprising to most teenagers, and
reminds them that books aren't as "old" or "boring" as they usually give them credit
for.