Because Chapter Two of Harper Lee's To Kill a
Mockingbird deals with Scout's first experience with public school, some of
the things we learn about Scout in here reveal the life she has led at
home.
We discover that Scout has been wishing for a long
time to go to school; her anticipation is seen as she watches the children in the school
yard from a tree. Unfortunately, Scout runs into problems with Miss Caroline, her
teacher, ironically because Scout can already read. It's not just that she can read a
storybook, but she can read a newspaper: even the financial section. We discover that
Atticus has been teaching to read at home and she has excelled. Jem says she just sort
of started reading on her own, almost born to it. She is scolded by her teacher. (Later
Atticus agrees that what they read at home will be done in
secret.)
Scout also has learned to write from Calpurnia,
and not just printing, but writing, as she copies scripture from the Bible. Her
education has come to her through non-traditional ways, in the teacher's opinion, though
for many years, children would be schooled in things at
home.
We discover, too, that Scout is a part of the
community as a whole in the classroom. She and the other children are well aware that
the Cunninghams have no money. The children must have some respect for Scout's ability
to speak with adults as they suggest that she try to explain "about the Cunninghams" to
Miss Caroline, which does her more harm than good.
Scout is
a very mature little girl, who—in this case—is punished or href="http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/censured">censured for knowing
too much. Her abilities and attempts to assist the teacher are not appreciated at all.
She has learned many more things at home that most children of her age, and is more
mature than one might expect.
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