Brooke Graves - Chapters 26 & 27 - Explore Scout's confusion in class and then her altercation with Jem. What is the root of Scout's confusion about Miss Gates? How is Miss Gates being a hypocrite? Why does Harper Lee include this? What is the purpose?

       Scout was confused about Miss Gates because in class she taught the kids that everyone is equal in America, but Scout had heard her say, outside of the courthouse, that it was about time that blacks got taught a lesson. In class, Cecil talked about Hitler, and Ms. Gates taught the kids about how America is a democracy and Germany is a dictatorship. Scout explained to the class that a democracy is, "Equal rights for all, special privileges for none," (Lee 328). Later, when Scout talked to Atticus about Miss Gates's reaction to Hitler, she said, "Miss Gates said it was awful, Hitler doin' like he does, she got real red in the face about it," (Lee 330). When Scout went to Jem because she was confused, Scout told Jem, "Well, coming out of the courthouse that night Miss Gates was... talking with Miss Stephanie Crawford. I heard her say it's time somebody taught 'em a lesson, they were gettin' way above themselves, an' the next thing they think they can do is marry us," (Lee 331). Scout was extremely confused by this because Miss Gates told the class that Jews were equal to all of us, and it wasn't right for Hitler to put them away in a pen. Scout knew that despite what she taught the kids in class, she didn't believe that all people were equal. In the statement she made to Stephanie, she separated blacks from everyone else. She believes that blacks can't come near white woman, and they certainly don't have the right to marry a white woman.
       Miss Gates was being a hypocrite because she was teaching the kids to believe that all people are equal, but she believes that black people aren't equal. Harper Lee included this in the book to display that most people in Maycomb don't think of blacks as people, they think of them as an object, trash. They think of blacks as trash because if in their minds black are trash they don't have to give them equal rights.

Do you think that people in Maycomb really see blacks as trash because of reasons other then their skin color, or do they use that as an excuse to not give them equal rights?

Brooke Graves - Chapters 18 and 19 - Why does Dill cry? Explain the situation in detail. How does this relate back to Atticus’s comment about having a police force of children? (210)

          At the end of chapter 19, Dill cries because he is discussed and enraged by the way Mr. Gilmer was treating Tom Robinson. Scout, Dill, and Jem were all in the courtroom watching the case, but when Mr. Gilmer went to cross-examine Tom Robinson it was to much for Dill to handle. He burst into tears and ran out of the courtroom. Dill told Scout, when they were sitting under an oak tree, "The way that man called him 'boy' all the time an' sneered at him, an' looked around at the jury every time he answered," (Lee 266). Mr. Gilmer believed that Tom must be lying, must be violent, and must take advantage of white women simply because he is black.
          This relates back to Atticus's comment about having a police force of children because when the mob was going to attack Atticus and Tom Robinson, the children brought Mr. Cunningham to his senses. Mr. Gilmer needs Dill to bring him to his senses. Atticus suggested that they have a police force of children because children can see past people's color and judge the situations based on what is happening. Adults can't always do this, and they are quick to make assumptions. Dill was able to look past the fact that Tom Robinson was black and he said, "It ain't right, somehow it ain't right to do em' that way. Hasn't anybody got any business talkin' like that - it makes me sick," (Lee 266).

What is it that makes adults racists and assume things about people, as apposed to when they were kids?

16-17 What is revealed that is confusing about Mr. Underwood in chapter 16? How does this relate to one of the themes of the novel? -Bayard Eton

         In chapter 16, while discussing last night's events, Atticus says "You know it's a funny thing about Braxton, he despises Negros, won't have one near him" (Lee, 209). Braxton (Mr. Underwood) doesn't like black people like Tom Robinson, however Underwood defends Tom when the lynch mob is coming after him. Mr. Underwood did not suddenly have a change of heart for colored people, he respects Atticus and the law. He is not like Mr. Cunningham who disobeys the law by what he feels is right, Underwood not only obeys the law but he is also helping Atticus defend it. In this scene Underwood is shown as a kind person.
        From a different prospective, Underwood may have not been protecting Tom Robinson, but he may have just been protecting Atticus. He may not care less what happens to Tom, but he knows that Atticus is valuable to the community and probably to Underwood as well. Even though Atticus was defending someone that Mr. Underwood may not have, Underwood is still a kind enough person to protect Atticus over joining the mob.