Civility and compassion in public discourse? Walking away from the Last Word (an excerpt from TMP)

I listened to a fellow educatorlamentlast week that ourstudents no longer understand how to civilly disagree with one another. I thought about his comment this weekend as I observed the newsfrom Wisconsin and watched the Sunday morning punditsyell ateach otherover the direction of our country’s politics. More than anytime I can remember, we seem to […]

Would a younger Atticus have changed the story?

“The Parable of Atticus Finch” was one of the more engaging chapters to write because it allowed me to dive in and examine the attributes of the character that, for many, is the reason they love To Kill a Mockingbird. Exploring Atticus helped me to realize how much faith was a guiding force in his […]

The Bravery of Boo & Questions About Violence

People who love To Kill a Mockingbirdtend totalk about Atticus and his commitment to non-violence. It is one of the many reasons I am inspired by Lee’s protagonist. Known by many as the best shot in Maycomb County, he swears off ownership of a gun and dismisses his children when they ask him to carry […]