Tuesday, February 21, 2012

What satirical points are made on the subject of education in "To Kill a Mockingbird"?

Ever hear the saying "I never let my schooling interfere with my education"? Much like this saying, the school system in To Kill a Mockingbird is portrayed cynically. For instance, Scout's teacher, Miss Caroline, scolds her for knowing how to read before coming to school, claiming that Atticus does not know how to teach. It seems as if she is more concerned with her lesson plans and less concerned about the well-being of the students. No teacher should be angry that a student knows how to read ahead of schedule!

Also, Miss Caroline does not seem to understand the culture of the town and her students, since when Scout explains that a Cunningham will not take anything for free, Miss Caroline slaps her hand, instead of trying to understand. School is supposed to be a place where a student can grow intellectually and emotionally, but Scout does not have that experience the first year.

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