Journal #1- Chapters 1-3 from the perspective of Ms. Caroline

Well my first day being a teacher here at Maycomb. These kids here are at least 3 years older than any regular first graders. But I still taught them like first graders, so I started by writing the alphabet on the blackboard and asked if any one even knew what it was. I was a little surprised that they knew and a little not surprised because they have been in the first grade for a couple years now. I asked my student, Jean Louise, to read it to us. I was very surprised that she knew the alphabet and knew how to read the alphabet. Then I started to think that there is no way she is this smart. I told her to tell her father to stop teaching her because that will interfere with my teaching. When I told her that she seemed shocked because she acted like he didn't teach here any anything and that I'm suppose to believe that she learned how to read all by herself? When it was time for lunch almost everyone had one, but Walter Cunningham. I felt sorry for him so I decided to make a compromise with him. He lend him the quarter and he can pay me back on the next day. But he declined my offer. Now I'm just angry because this kid ain't taking my quarter I'm offering him and Jean Louise for knowing how to read already. Things are just getting worse and worse for me. Walter whispered something to Scout and she tells me that he's a Cunningham. How am I suppose to know what that means? Then she is babbling about the Cunningham's and that they don't take anything they can't payback. That they only payback with stove wood and other things. This girl really irks me. After that, I thought that the Cunningham's were eccentric because they should at least accept things that are offered to them that are free, so they don't have to repay them with money or stove wood.


Then after lunch, I thought was going to be better, but wasn't. First there was this thing in one of my students head. I yelled it was alive and somehow not surprising all the guys in the class rush over and try to kill it. I was pointing at this students head because something was moving in there. Then a student called “Little Chuck Little” said I shouldn't be afraid of any “cootie” whatever that is. I watched how the “cooties” worked and it was oddly fascinating and horrifying. I asked for his name and he replied with a Burris Ewell. I searched the roll book but there was no first name for the Ewell that was on my roll book. Then I made a pronouncement for Burris Ewell to go home and wash his hair with lye soap and kerosene because I do not want any “cooties” on my head. When he stood up he was very filthy. His filth and “cooties” were intimidating me because he smells bad, and I don't want “cooties” on me. I asked him to take a bath before he comes back to school. Then he says that I ain't sending him home because he was about to leave anyway. That he already spent enough time for this year. Then one of my students explained that he is an Ewell. That they come on the first day and they leave for the whole year. That I have to mark them absent the rest of the year. I was concerned because these kids aren't getting a good education and that their parents must be horrible for letting there students act like that. I told Burris to sit back down. Then “Little Chuck Little” told me to let him go because he's liable to start a fight. I told him to go home and if he doesn't I'll report this to the principal. He turns around with this look and says that if I do report him that I'd be damned. That no slut of a school teacher can ever make him do nothing. I tried not to cry, but he was just waiting there. Waiting for me to cry. I couldn't hold so I just cried and the students cheered me up.