Commentary on The Lesson Essay

In The Lesson by Toni Cade Bambara, Miss More teaches lessons like math, science, and social class. Sylvia and her friends learn the value of social classes and see the life outside of their community. At the end of the field trip, the children learn that through determination, they can achieve success. Both Toni Cade Bambara and Horatio Alger are trying to show that any individual can live the American Dream.

In the story The Lesson, Miss Moore educates her students in the neighborhood about the importance of social classes. The way Miss Moore is shown in the story shows a lot about the differences in social classes. Miss Moore been to college and said it only right that she should take responsibility for the young ones education. (265) This shows shes different from any other adult Sylvia and her friends has ever encountered. This also shows that although Miss Moore lives in the same community as Sylvia and her friends, but she is categorize in a different social class than them. Compared to the streets of Manhattan Sylvia began to visualize the difference in social classes. Miss Moore asks Sylvia to tip the cab driver 10 percent, but she kept it for herself because she felt that he dont need it bad as I do, so later for him. (266) Sylvia realizes that shes in whole another different social class than the people she encounters with in downtown. Sylvia also sees the opposite of one lady in a fur coat, hot as it is. and refer to her as crazy. (266) She couldnt fathom to the reason why we on Fifth Ave and everybody dressed up in stockings.Despite the hot weather on Fifth Ave, Sylvia perceives the wealthy of the people in Manhattan. (266)

Miss Moore teaches the children about the importance and value of math and how it can be used in their everyday lives. Heading to the toy store in a cab, Miss Moore gives Sylvia five dollars and tells her to tip the driver 10 percent. The reason for this is to show how Sylvia can use math in her everyday life. The difference in the value of the prices of a toy-boat in Sylvia's neighborhood and Fifth Ave shows a prime example Hand-crafted sailboat of fiberglass at one thousand one hundred ninety-five dollars (268) Sylvia was in amazement when she read the price because she can buy a sailboat set for a quarter at Pops, a tube of glue for a dime, and a ball of string for eight cents....My sailboat cost me about 50 cents. (268) Sylvia continues to contemplate on the different things that her family could have brought with just by having the toy clown in their possession. With a toy that somersaults on a bar then does chin-ups just cause you yank his leg can easily help her family buy new bunk beds for Junior and Gretchens boy. Thirty-five dollars and the whole household could go visit Granddaddy Nelson in the country. (265) Just by having thirty-five dollars would pay for rent and the piano bill too. This shows that Sylvia is living in poverty compared to the people of Manhattan. They can easily buy a toy clown worth $35 while that same amount of money can help her family.

Along with math and social class, Miss Moore teaches the children about science, such as the microscope and paperweight. She was fascinated on how Ronald was interesting in buying a microscope and start gabbing about the thousands of bacteria in a drop of water and the somethinorother in a speck of blood. (266) Besides the microscope, Miss Moore also teaches the children about paper weight. At first, the children didnt know what the paperweight was for, and then Miss Moore explains to them that Its to weigh paper down so it wont scatter and make your desk untidy.(267) Mercedes tries to explain to her friends how its beneficial to have one on a desk at home but was interrupted by Flyboy. (268)

Miss Moore teaches these three lessons to the children to show that they are capable of doing more. Miss Moore would like to see the children to come out of their predicament and become determine to make a change in their life. This can be connected with Daltons Hotario Alger ways of living the American Dream. Miss Moore believes that if Sylvia and her friends were motivated enough, they would become something bigger than their community. Alger also believes that anyone can live the American dream and that each of us is judged solely on her or his merits (Alger, 272) This means as long as you have the fundamental mindset of becoming successful, no trials or tribulations that come in your way will prevent you from achieving. Miss Moore also believes that Sylvia and her friends had learned a valuable lesson where they discovered that there is more to life than what they vision in their community and that they can strive to be the best. Miss Moore feels that they have as much right to buy those toys just like everyone else. Just like Miss Moore, Alger feels that we have a fair opportunity to develop those merits. Sylvia has a fair opportunity to buy the toys that she sees at Fifth Ave later on in life.

Sylvia understands the inequality that is around her. This lesson has been an eye-opening for her. Through the narration of Sylvia, one can conclude that a personal transformation is being transcended in the mind of a little girl that wants to embark on a change and leave the lifestyle that she is in right now. Miss Moore opens up the children mind by teaching them about social class, math and science. Both Bambara and Daltons Horatio Alger stories show these ideas and moral across, that through hard work, one can succeed. Only Sylvia can change her predicament because as Miss Moore always pointing out....where we are is who we are. But it doesnt necessarily have to be that way.