What Does To Kill A Mockingbird Teach Tolerance

Hello, I am currently a freshman at YSHS, and I have just finished reading To Kill a Mockingbird with my English class. I am aware that the school board is currently reviewing the book for its educational value. To Kill a Mockingbird should remain in the YSSD curriculum because it teaches tolerance and everyday life lessons that are vital to high school students.

To Kill a Mockingbird promotes tolerance by negatively depicting intolerance while positively portraying acceptance. For example, when a lynch mob goes after Tom Robinson, a black man, before his trial for raping a white woman named Mayella, Scout stops the men by reminding them that they are good Christians, not men who would lynch another man based on his race (204-206). This demonstrates

To demonstrate, when Scout rants to Atticus about what a terrible teacher Miss Caroline is, Atticus tells her that “[y]ou never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view” (39). Atticus understands that although someone may seem like a bad or unskilled person, he or she may just have certain weaknesses or experiences that account for their flaws. Throughout the book, Scout and Jem use this lesson to understand others, teaching the reader that putting yourself in another person’s shoes allows you to understand him or her. This allows YS students to tolerate and coexist with others in their diverse high school setting. Furthermore, when Atticus defends Tom Robinson in his trial, many people ridicule him for treating black people with respect. When Scout asks Atticus if the criticisms she has heard against him are true, Atticus explains to her that despite criticism from others, he still is defending Robinson because doing anything else would be selfish and wrong, teaching Scout that people need to do the right thing, regardless of the consequences (100). Atticus puts the needs of others before his because he knows it is the kind, compassionate thing to do. This teaches readers to be unselfish and stay true to their values no matter what others say, a moral lesson that is vital in a high school setting where students strive to conform and be accepted. Clearly, the life lessons taught in To Kill a Mockingbird are necessary to promote acceptance and kindness, which students otherwise forget during their high school