Scout Finch Does It Again...

My sophomores finished reading To Kill A Mockingbird last week and finished watching the movie yesterday. Overwhelmingly, they liked it, and (not) surprisingly, many of them promptly announced upon the film's completion, "The book was so much better!" (Because it really and truly is.)

Currently, these same students are working on a culminating activity that involves art and some writing and a door. I designed the project, and if I am not being asked to be humble, I'll admit that the assignment is genius. Perhaps I'll write a blog about it someday. Only time will tell.

What I have to say about To Kill A Mockingbird is this, though: Even after teaching this novel for years and reading it dozens and dozens and DOZENS of times, I am still learning from Scout and Atticus and Jem and Miss Maudie and Mr. Dolphus Raymond and the gang. I could probably write a ten-page paper about the lessons these fictional characters have taught me just this year, and I actually started a blog about it several weeks ago... but the gist of what I've taken away is this: "I think that there is just one kind of folks. Folks." Scout says it. And Jem's counterargument is, "If there is just one kind of folks, why can't they get along with each other? If they're all alike, why do they go out of their way to despise each other?"

Every single member of society would likely benefit from reading (or rereading) To Kill A Mockingbird at this moment in time. I truly believe that America would be a much better (and more intelligent) country if people would simply READ more often and open their eyes to viewpoints that aren't familiar -- and that are maybe even a little bit uncomfortable. It's not about changing your beliefs so much as it is listening to and appreciating the beliefs of others... because ultimately, we are all folks.

Today, an amazing thing happened. My former student Cinthya reached out to me and said this: "Happy Teacher Appreciation Week! OMG you won't believe what I've been doing! I have actually been reading books! Which I find funny because I remember telling you in class how much I hated reading 😂 Even though I loved the book To Kill A Mockingbird! Thank you for introducing me to the first book I actually loved!"

My principals gifted me with the most beautiful cookies I have ever seen in my entire life early this morning... but Cinthya's words mean more than the combination of Monday's free breakfast, Tuesday's free lunch, Wednesday's beautiful cookies and free coffee, tomorrow's free Kona Ice, and whatever may be in store for Friday.

I was able to share one of my ultimate loves, my very favorite book of all time, with a kid who I adored having in class and who I continue to adore spending time with into adulthood, and even though it's only Wednesday... her words have made my entire week.