Atticus Finch Parenting

In “To Kill a Mockingbird” the townspeople of Maycomb criticize Atticus Finch based on his parenting, but Jem and Scout learn valuable lessons through his parenting. Although children hate being punished this is one of many ways for parents to teach their children morals. Children learn morals through lectures and their parent’s actions as well. Atticus is a good parent because he teaches his children about integrity, honor, and “the golden rule.”
When parents punish their children for bad actions this will make the child want to change. Jem destroys Ms. Duboses roses because she was criticizing Atticus for defending a black man. When Atticus finds out Jem did this he told Jem “... to do something like this to a sick old lady is inexcusable.”

Children receive them when they succeed, when they fail or when parents feel the need to speak to their child. Children are going to listen to the adults because they were taught to respect them. Atticus teaches his children “the golden rule”, whenever they judge people he tells them “you never really understand a man until you walk a mile in his shoes.” He tells them this because you can never understand why someone does something until you see the situation from their point of view. On Scouts first day of school, she has a teacher who is new to Maycomb. Ms. Caroline didn’t know that some families had certain expectations. She tries to give Walter Cunningham money to buy something to eat for lunch. Scout tries to explain to the teacher that the Cunninghams don’t take things that they can’t payback. Ms. Caroline becomes offended and paddles Scout. Scout complains to Atticus that she doesn’t want to go back to school because of Ms. Caroline. He explains to her that she has to see from her point of view that it was an honest mistake. From then on she learned that she should see things from all points of view without the lecture she wouldn’t know

The children will most likely imitate their parents’ actions, as well as how others react to their actions. In the story, Atticus defends a black man named Tom Robinson who was accused of raping a white woman named Mayella Ewell. It wasn’t easy to defend a black man in a racist town. Jem and Scout are ridiculed on account that Atticus is defending Tom. Atticus doesn’t want his children causing trouble on his behalf. They learn it takes integrity and patience to deal with the insults they dealt with. Even after the trial when Tom Robinson was proven guilty, Atticus showed integrity and honor when Bob Ewell spit in Atticus’s face. Instead of taking action Atticus just walked away and said nothing. He could’ve done something about what Bob Ewell did but he decided to be the bigger person. Jem and Scout learn two things from this whole trial. One thing they learn is that don’t deal with a situation that doesn’t involve you. Two is be the bigger person no matter the situation you are