There are several ways to look at your question concerning
"education." Scout gets her schooling at the local elementary school, where her two
teachers--Miss Caroline and Miss Gates--receive mixed reviews at best. Miss Caroline
immediately dismisses Scout's advanced skills and reduces her to merely tolerating the
rest of the first grade. Miss Gates, the second grade teacher, fairs only slightly
better, and Scout learns that she cannot be trusted. Scout gets schooled at home as
well: She and Atticus read together each night, and Calpurnia has already taught her how
to write cursive.
But Scout gets an education from others
as well. She learns to think sensibly from Miss Maudie, and she comes to learn that most
of Miss Stephanie's gossip is not true. She learns about the outside world from Dill,
and she learns about how a lady should act from Aunt Alexandra. From Boo, Tom and
Dolphus Raymond, Scout learns that things are not always what they seem; meanwhile, Bob
Ewell teaches her that true evil exists in man.
However,
Scout gets most of her education from Atticus. In his down to earth manner, he teaches
her about honesty, humility and tolerance. She learns the truth about the Finch family
history, the Radleys, and Maycomb in general. She slowly comes to understand that he is
one of Maycomb's most important assets and how one man can make a difference even when
it seems least likely.
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