In Harper Lee's To Kill a
Mockingbird, Atticus is very supportive of public education, as he is of most
things within Maycomb.
Although Scout does not want to
attend school, Atticus is firm.
...they'd put me in jail if I kept you at
home.
When Atticus discovers
that Miss Caroline does not want Atticus teaching his daughter to read anymore, even
though she reads better than her classmates, Atticus devises a way that they can
continue to read together by keeping it secret. So he shows support of what is happening
in the public school, but does not openly flaunt his disagreement with Miss Caroline's
tatics. He agrees to make a compromise so that both "sides" are
satisfied.
Scout reminds Atticus that the Ewells only ever
attend the first day of school and no one gets in trouble for that; Atticus reminds
Scout that the Ewells are something of an exception. Bob Ewell drinks away all the money
he gets, and surviving is a difficult proposition for the Ewells. Many of the rules
don't apply to this family.
Atticus still supports the
general institution of school:
'Let us leave it at this, ' said Atticus dryly.
'You, Miss Scout Finch, are of the common folk. You must obey the
law.'
As is the case with
Atticus in most things, he is flexible and good-natured. He tries to find common ground
where everyone will get what he or she needs, without creating
difficulties.
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