Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird

936 Words2 Pages

Controversial subjects and events have arisen since time began. When these topics are emerging, developing, and being discussed, the perfect opportunity arises for people to formulate their opinions and support and develop them based upon their current knowledge, values, beliefs, and morals. There are always people who tend to voice their opinions louder and more obnoxiously than what is necessary or appropriate; conversely, there are also people who develop their own opinions and feel just as passionate as the loud people but don’t know how to go about expressing their opinions and, therefore, remain unheard. In the middle of this spectrum fall the people who either cannot seem to develop their own opinions, are too indolent, don’t care enough, or do not want to be pulled into and engaged with the situation and, therefore, choose to remain neutral. There is fault within all three of these choices because none have gone about properly expressing their opinions. Fortunately, there is an alternative to these three types of people: those people who have a strong opinion and firm beliefs, but know how to properly express themselves. They rely on their personal experiences to connect to and support their opinions, and they express these beliefs so as not to force them upon people, but to make a statement. A perfect example of this characteristic is found in Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird; Lee uses her own childhood experiences to bring to the public’s attention many controversial subjects and, through skillful storytelling, portray where she stands on these subjects. One important subject Lee subtly, but effectively, addresses is the ineffectual and counterproductive state of public education and the importance of learning in one’...

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...tive, even if it was not the most popular opinion of her day.

Works Cited

Gatto, John Taylor. "Against School: How public education cripples our kids and why." Harper's Magazine September 2003.

Lee, Harper. To Kill A Mockingbird. Ney York, New York: Warner Books Inc., 1960.

Moore, Dr. Raymond. "Don't Ignore Grandma: An Essay for School Administrators." Moore Report International January/February 1995.

The Heritage Foundation. "Primary Sources: John Dewey and the Progressive Conception of Freedom." 1908. The Heritage Foundation. Ed. The Heritage Foundation First Principles Series. .

Warde, W.F. "John Dewey's Theories of Education." International Socialist Review 21.1 (1960).

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1168 Words | 3 Pages
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Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird

John Gatto Against School Summary