Each school year, I have the privilege of introducing my students to one of my favorite people. This man puts the "gentle" in gentleman. He speaks carefully and thoughtfully. He loves his children and respects them as individuals. He treats everyone with compassion. He is Atticus Finch, and his place in the classrooms of the 21st century is just as important as it was when "To Kill a Mockingbird" was published in 1960.
By looking at some of his most famous words and words said about him, we can see why the world still needs Atticus Finch (and for more people to try to be like him).
"I could not remember not being able to read. I could not remember when the lines above Atticus' moving finger separated into words." - Scout Finch
Atticus spent time reading with his children. Children gain so much when adults take the time to read with them. For example, reading aids in language development, and the more words a child knows upon entering kindergarten is a key predictor of academic success. Reading to children builds literacy skills and can instill a love of reading in a child. Choosing nonfiction books to read also can help children gain knowledge. Time spent reading is time well spent.
"I wanted you to see what real courage is, instead of getting the idea that courage is a man with a gun in his hand." - Atticus Finch
Columbine, Sandy Hook and, most recently, Marysville-Pilchuck High School. A CNN report from earlier this year states that since the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary, 15 school-shooter incidents have occurred, many of them involving gunmen in their teens.
Sufficient research exists to suggest strongly that exposure to violence in the media and video games can desensitize individuals to the effects of violence and increase aggression. Considering teens are watching more violent media than ever before and are spending hours playing violent video games, this desensitization can have tragic results.
Our young people are better connected with each other than any other time in history. Social media makes it possible for them to know what is going on in each other's lives 24/7. We must instill in them the courage to take action when they see something written or hear something about a friend or acquaintance that gives them pause, that gut feeling that something might be going on in the life of a friend. Having the courage to speak up can save lives.
Parents also have a responsibility to be aware of changes in behavior in their child or children. Look for warning signs that might indicate there is a problem and seek the appropriate professional help. If a child spends increasing amounts of time alone in the bedroom playing video games or has become withdrawn and seems to have lost friends, these can be signs of depression, which can lead to events that might cause them to harm themselves or others. Though it takes courage to admit there is a problem and seek help, it is the right thing to do.
"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." - Atticus Finch
This year, before I introduced Atticus to my students, I asked them to write about an event from their childhood that affected them, either positively or negatively, and tell how that event had shaped them into the person they are today. The next class meeting, we moved the desks into a big circle and shared our stories. What happened in that room that day was the most profoundly moving experience of my teaching career. I witnessed students sharing their most private stories in an atmosphere of safety and non-judgment. We heard about the pain of losing one or both parents, the deep wounds caused by bullying, the lives changed when parents have addictions. There were hugs, there were tears, there were people regarding each other through new eyes - eyes of compassion and empathy.
"To Kill a Mockinbird" author Harper Lee's message, conveyed through the events and characters of a quiet small town, resonates throughout the world today as loudly as it did during the tumultuous 1960s. By heeding the didactic dispensations of Atticus Finch and using him as a role model for parenting, a more aware, courageous and compassionate society will result.
Gail Adams teaches language arts at Wheeling Park High School. She is a National Board Certified Teacher, and she was named Teacher of the Year for West Virginia and Ohio County Schools in 2014.