Education In To Kill A Mockingbird Essay

Discuss the theme of education in To Kill a Mockingbird

The theme of education is important in To Kill a Mockingbird for several reasons. Firstly, the inadequate schooling reveals the general decay in the south at the time. Secondly, the character of Atticus shows us a kind of ideal educator who contrasts sharply with the representatives of state education. Thirdly, through education we see another aspect of the discrimination faced by black citizens. Finally, we understand through this novel that education is far more than just going to school.

Lets deal first with the general problems of schooling at the time. Scout is a bright child with an enquiring mind. From the first day she enters school it becomes apparent that this is going to cause problems for her. The approach to education is a kind of one size fits all method in which the child is expected to be passive. Scout has already been taught to read by her father and the teacher, Miss Caroline is upset about that, thinking it extremely inappropriate. The teacher introduces her new method, The Dewey Decimal system without really considering whether it will work for these children in this particular school. She is very confident that she knows best- certainly better than the parents and children. She punishes Scout for not conforming to her idea of what a little girl should be like on her first day at school.

The early school years are portrayed as a complete waste of time. Jem only starts to enjoy school much later ( 6th grade) when some interesting topics are taught. Scout continues to dislike school and doesnt seem to benefit from it at all.

Now we shall consider the character of Atticus. He accepts that he has to operate within the system even though he doesnt like the approach taken by the school. It is interesting that as an educated parent, he does not try to approach the school and get things changed. Instead, he compromises by continuing to read with Scout, against the teachers instructions and telling her to keep quiet about it. This quiet, non-confrontational but determined approach is typical of Atticus. This in itself serves as an example to both Scout and Jem as to how to deal with situations you face. There are many other instances of Atticus leading by example and through these examples teaching his children important lessons.

The greatest lesson they learn in this way is to follow your conscience and not the majority. Almost every white citizen of Maycomb expects and accepts that Tom Robinson will be convicted even if he is innocent. Atticus believes that every person, irrespective of colour has the right to a fair trial and he proceeds to defend Tom in spite of receiving many insults and threats.

Other lessons they learn from Atticus are non-violence and modesty. The children do not know that their father was once a champion shot as they have never seen him shoot a gun. He has never tried to impress them with his skills and Scout actually thinks her father is old and weak, an impression he does nothing to correct. When it becomes necessary for him to shoot a rabid dog in order to protect people, he does so with great accuracy and skill. Through this incident the children learn that it is not good to boast and that violence should only be used when really necessary.

Jem learns the meaning of true courage through a lesson taught to him by his father. Jem takes revenge on a spiteful neighbour, Mrs Dubose by breaking her flowers. As a punishment Jem has to go and read to Mrs Dubose every day for a month. At the time neither of the children realise that this punishment is actually an important lesson about courage. Mrs Dubose has a very painful condition and was addicted to morphine. She knows she is dying and decides to stop taking it in spite of the pain she has to undergo. Atticus gets Jem to spend time with this lady at the end of her life in order to teach him about true courage.

During this period, blacks were segregated from whites in all areas of life, even education. There were no black schools built in the south in the 1930s and as Calpurnia tells the children, only 4 members of the black church can read and write. This fact serves as further illustration of the discrimination against blacks that existed due to the Jim Crow laws. Interestingly, though, many black characters are portrayed as morally superior to the whites, again showing that education does not come only from school.

In all aspects of the book, education comes across as being something more than book learning. It is about walking in another mans shoes and understanding the other persons point of view. The best way of educating a child is through practical lessons and living a good life yourself as a parent or educator. Being educated in a traditional sense does not make a person good; lacking school education does not make him bad. Atticus embodies the ideal educator, not only of his own children but of society as a whole.