Harper Lee portrays Scout as brave and mature beyond her age. On the first day of first grade, Miss Caroline discovers Scout's ability to read and write. She concludes that Atticus must have taught Scout to read, becomes very displeased and makes Scout feel guilty for being literate. When Miss Caroline tells Scout to tell her father not to teach her any more, Scout courageously stands up for herself and then replies "He hasn't taught me anything (pg 17)." Later at lunch, Miss Caroline offers to lend Walter, Scout's classmate, a quarter to buy lunch. Scout and her classmates know that Walter's family is big and poor but they are not willing to stand up to their teacher. On page 19, "Walter shook his head a third time and someone whispered,"Go on and tell her, Scout" showing how her classmates see her as a leader. Based on her actions, it is evident that Scout is not afraid to express her opinions and stand up for other people and even to her teacher. Also, the way Scout faces her teacher reveals that she's mature and well beyond her age. On the other hand, Miss Caroline is portrayed as a teacher who misunderstands her students. For instance, she seems to have difficulty relating to Walter. Also, when Scout states "Jem says I was. He read in a book where I was a Bullfinch good-naturedly, that I got swapped when I was born and I'm really a-(pg 17)" Miss Caroline thought she was lying.
Why do you think Miss Caroline has difficulty relating to her students? Do you think Scout made the right decision to stand up for her classmate? What would you have done if you were in the same situation as Scout? How is your personality similar/different from Scout's?
-Michelle
Harper Lee portrays Miss Caroline deliberately as having difficulty communicating with her students. As Scout said, she came "From North Alabama, with the factories and mills." It would be very hard to go from a place like that to dealing with people like the Cunningham family, who are different than anything she probably experienced in the cities of Northern Alabama. Scout will probably help her make the change, as I can see Harper Lee possibly bringing the characters together as friends later on, as their personalities are a lot alike. No matter what happens though, it will take Miss Caroline a long time to relate to the students in a way they both appreciate.
ReplyDeleteScout is quite an intelligent first grader, as she knows more than the average person in her grade. She knows how to read and write, and she also knows how to make quick decisions. In my opinion, Scout’s choice in taking the stand in explaining Walter Cunningham’s family wealth state was the right one to make. Chances are, if she refused to explain to her teacher about Walter, Miss Caroline would have gotten even more irritated than she ultimately was, and the consequences could have been worse. Though there is no proof of this, an innocent explanation of Walter angered Miss Caroline enough to end with a whipping. Along with that, Scout’s classmates unanimously agreed that she should explain Walter’s situation with all of them oblivious to the possibility of Scout being hit with a ruler: “ ‘Go on and tell her, Scout.’ I turned around and saw most of the town people and the entire bus delegation looking at me.” (26) Scout made a move that was ultimately looked down upon by her teacher, however to me, it was an act of bravery and something that I’m glad she ended up doing.
ReplyDeleteI think Miss Caroline has difficulty relating to her students because she was brought up much differently than, say the “Maycomb way,” which has a lot more poverty than in North Alabama. “…full with Liquor Interests, Big Mules, Steel Companies, Republicans, professors…” Page 21, these are all examples of the wealthier upbringings in North Alabama , also, she is from Winston County, which seceded from Alabama when Alabama seceded from the Union, because she is from a very defiant area she probably thinks she’s a more important person than someone from another town.
ReplyDeleteI think it was very courageous of Scout to stand up for Walter, without Scout to explain to Miss Caroline about the Cunningham family I think Walter would have been yelled at/ beaten because he clearly wasn’t comfortable about explaining himself, I’m not sure if he would have. If I was in that situation I would defiantly not have stood up for Walter for fear of being beaten by a mean older person. (remember, you’re a 1st grader in this situation)
If not Scout to stand up for Walter Cunningham, than who?
Scout made the right decision to stand up for her classmate, even though the outcome didn't turn out to be good for Scout. But if Scout didn't stand up for Walter, what would've happened to Walter? Nobody else was willing to tell Miss Caroline why Walter couldn't borrow the quarter, so Walter would've gotten into a lot of trouble with Miss Caroline.
ReplyDeleteIf I was Scout I would've stood up for Walter especially if my classmates were counting on me to confront Miss Caroline for Walter's cause. That means that my class thinks I'm a leader and they count on me to be a good example for the class.
I think my personality is similar to Scout's because Scout is always willing to stand up for somebody or help somebody out when they need help. For example, Scout explained to Miss Caroline how Walter couldn't borrow a quarter when Walter and nobody else had the nerves to explain.
What do you make of the class telling Scout to confront Miss Caroline when Walter couldn't borrow a quarter? How do you think the rest of the class views Scout? Do you think Scout's actions of confronting Miss Caroline were smart or not?
Why do you think Miss Caroline has difficulty relating to her students?
ReplyDeleteBecause Miss Caroline was taught to teach at a college, the learning style that she is used to may be very different from the learning style they use in Maycomb/Alabama. The learning style that Miss Caroline is used to is that everything proceeds one after the other in a certain order while the people in Maycomb are used to just learning things as they are taught in no particular order. This may be because where Miss Caroline comes from, the only place that they would learn was in school and at home they only do work that is related to school. Because Miss Caroline was taught that way, she believes that that is how you should teach everywhere. On the other hand, Scout is used to being taught in all different places at different times in no particular order. For example, she learns to read with Atticus and write with to write with calpurnia. Because of this difference in teaching/learning styles, Miss Caroline has trouble relating to her students and establishing a connection between them.
I think Scout made the right decision in standing up for her own classmate, even if it was not received well by Miss. Caroline. All the kids the class look to Scout when Walter Cunningham is struggling. Even under the spotlight Scout doesn't shy away but steps up for him, " I rose graciously on Walter's behalf. 'Ah-Miss. Caroline?...he's a Cunningham...'" (26) She kept trying to explain to her teacher his predicament, sparing him the shame. I do believe it was the numerous times of Scout telling Miss. Caroline "he's a Cunningham..." that ultimately got her in trouble. The teacher obviously did not appreciate being told "You sham'in him..." (28) I admire Scout for doing this because she stood up for Walter despite having had "conferences" with Miss. Caroline earlier in the day. That was the teacher's last straw, but Scout didn't back down in fear of that "last straw" punishment. Although it got her whacked and "off on the wrong foot" with Miss. Caroline, I think Scout did courageously and correctly in standing up for Walter.
ReplyDeleteWhy do you think Miss Caroline has difficulty relating to her students?
ReplyDeleteI think that Miss Caroline has difficulty relating to her students because she does not know much about the social standings, and because she was not taught how to teach with the same learning style. After the first day of school, Miss Caroline has had to be corrected three times about why someone can't afford something, or why someone is the way they are (i.e.- dirty). Miss Caroline has obviously had many troubles with her teaching style just in the first day. She does not understand that some kids are smarter than others, and may be able to read while others still can't. Scout should not have to stop learning how to read because the rest of the class hasn't learned yet. This is a fault on Miss Caroline's part, and hopefully by the end of the novel she fixes it.
Ms. Caroline was schooled at a college where the teaching style, and learning style was different then that of Maycomb's. Ms. Caroline therefore had trouble relating to her students because they learn in a different way then she. In the book it says Ms. Caroline is from North Alabama, with, "big mules, steel companies, republicans, professors..." pg. 21 Ms. Caroline is portrayed by Harper Lee as someone who does not know/understand the 'Maycomb Way.' It will probably be very challenging for Ms. Caroline to make a transition from North Alabama, to a poor small town, like Maycomb. If anyone her students, will probably be the one's to help her better understand how they learn, and how she can help them. Ms. Caroline will eventually be able to relate to her students without difficulty.
ReplyDeleteDid scout make the right decision to stand up for her classmate?
ReplyDeleteI believe that standing up for Scouts classmate was a big act of bravery for scout. Harper Lee is trying to show the reader how mature scout is for a first grader. Already on the first day of school, scout had gotten in trouble with the new, Ms. Caroline. She decided that she would rather be in trouble than letting her friend get hurt because he could not afford a lunch. It was the right thing to do so that the teacher was educated about how it is in this town. If you are a farmer, you pay with what you have, which most of the time, isn't money.
I don't think Scout saw herself as standing up to her teacher exactly. She seemed to be trying to help her teacher understand why Walter couldn't take the quarter. She was explaining, not challenging Miss Caroline. In that way, it was as if Scout was the teacher and Miss Caroline was the pupil, so I agree that Scout is mature for her age. Unfortunately for Scout, Miss Caroline took Scout's explanation as a challenge, and thought Scout was trying to be a better teacher than she was, which is actually pretty true.
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