To Kill A Mockingbird By Harper Lee

The novel To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee, is a timeless classic that brings up heavy topics through a small town in Maycomb, Alabama. The main character, Scout Finch is a young maturing girl, continuing to develop as she explores and observes the town around her. As Scout develops to an age where she can attend school, it becomes clear that the most effective form of education is not inside the classroom but rather extending beyond, into her daily experiences. Through her personal interactions and experiences- her relationship with Boo Radley, her observations of Tom Robinson’s case, and her moral education from her father Atticus, Scout learns multiple important lessons such as fighting for what is right, not making assumptions from rumors

In the beginning, Scout is oblivious to her privilege in Maycomb, taking her opportunities for granted. However, as she steps inside the courtroom to observe the Tom Robinson case, she witnesses the extreme racial segregation and biases colored people face in Maycomb. When the jury announces the final verdict of Tom Robinson’s case, they assert, “Guilty... guilty... guilty… guilty...” [Scout peeks] at Jem: [Jem’s] hands [are] white from gripping the balcony rail, and his shoulders [jerks] as if each ‘guilty’ [is] a separate stab between them” (Lee 215). Although the jury has no concrete evidence that Tom is guilty for raping Mayella, the all white jury panel seems to dismiss the idea and convict Tom a sentence of death. As the final verdict leaves Scout resentful for Tom, she begins to observe that “when it’s a white man’s word against a black man’s, the white man always wins” (Lee 295). Having this experience, Scout starts recognizing the outward hatred many white people, especially Bob Ewell, have on the blacks and the injustices of the justice system. By this, Scout begins to understand the deep-roots of racism and how the court does not always give justice to those who are innocent. In contrast, in formal education, Scout is unable to see the real injustices of race due to the lack of representations in schools and little information about topics including race and prejudice. When it comes to Scout’s education, being able to see Tom Robinson’s trial first hand allows Scout to further develop, becoming more aware about the racial biases that exist in the justice system. As a result, the most effective form of education is through Scout’s own eyes and personal experiences rather than formal education she receives in