What Happens?

• Scout gets told off because it is apparent to her teacher that she can already read and write at a high level and is obviously quite intelligent for her age. The teacher tells her that her father (Atticus) must stop teaching her at home as he is interfering with her education.
• Scout gets in trouble also for telling the teacher the 'ins and outs' of Maycomb county "Miss Caroline, he's a Cunningham" - she expects that this is explanation enough and that the teacher should know that the Cunninghams are poor folks.
• Scout uses her fists to solve a fight with Walter for getting her into trouble. Jem then invites him home for lunch. Scout learns some lessons from Atticus about how to treat everyone as equally and not to assume that she knows how others feel.

Why is it significant?

Her first day at school is significant because we learn a lot more about Scout and are introduced to some of the minor characters in the story. The Cunninghams, we know, are poor people and they pay people back by giving food and what's available to them e.g. firewood, potatoes etc. They are not bad people, they just make do with what they've got. We learn about the Ewells, who are on the bottom of the social ladder and how poor and rejected they are . They do not participate in the community.

It is also significant because Scout gets to have a taste of what it is like associating freely with other people, of other classes. She is used to being up front and not really minding what she says. She is not really socially aware and this is why she gets into trouble and why Atticus must teach her important lessons - "You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view - until you climb into his skin and walk around in it"

What does it tell us about -

Scout:

She is quite intelligent (book smart).

Scout is aware of what happens in the community, but this knowledge is not her own. She gets it from Atticus e.g. her view of the Cunninghams

Scout is upfront. She doesn't really have any boundaries. She is honest, to the point that it may seem like she is being rude. This is a childlike quality. She doesn't hold back but thinks that she is quite right in her opinions and judgements.

Scout learns a lot from Atticus and always listens to what he says.

Walter Cunningham:

He is poor but will not accept money or charity from others - this shows pride.

He will probably remain poor. He doesn't have much of an education because he has to stay and help his father on the farm. But Atticus treats him like an equal.

The family is known in the town and carries a good name - they keep to themselves. They are cotton farmers who were hit hard in the depression.

Burris Ewell

Burris Ewell is made known to the class because of the cooties he has running around in his hair.

He only comes to school once a year.

He is the lowest of the low in Maycomb. "They were people, but they lived like animals"

Atticus

Atticus is blunt and honest, this is where Scout gets some of her personality from. He will tell Scout things and try to answer her questions as good as he can. Scout feels safe and is able to confide in him; tell him her worries and concerns.

Atticus holds not prejudice. He doesn't judge Walter Cunningham. He doesn't judge Scout's new teacher because of her style of teaching.