Even before Scout starts school she learns school life is very different to home. Jem tells her to leave him alone and not to “tag along behind him at recess and noon.” Once she reaches school we find out Scout thinks she is a know it all when it comes to peoples business in Maycomb. “Miss Caroline seemed unaware that the first grade were immune to imaginative literature.” Scout assumes this even though she does not know everyone she is talking about.
When Miss Caroline offers Walter Cunningham a quarter to buy his lunch with Scout objects. Even though the situation has little to do with her, without being asker Scout tries to explain why Walter can’t except her money. “Walter’s one of the Cunninghams Miss Caroline.” Scout thinks that because she knows everyone else’s business, so should Miss Caroline. She thought she had made things “sufficiently clear” with this limited piece of information. Scout learns about other families in the area from her father. She copies what he says. “My special knowledge of the Cunningham tribe was gained from events of last winter, Walters father was one of Atticus’s clients.”
Later in the schoolyard Scout catches up with Walter. Because Walter got her into trouble she deals with him the best way she knows how. “Rub his nose in the dirt.” Ever since she was little Scout has played games with Jem so this is where she learnt the rough and tumble. When Jem invites Walter to dinner, Scout acts defensive and does not want Walter to come. She only agrees for selfish reasons “ precious noontime minutes were ticking away.” Scout is one to hold a grudge. When at home, Calpurnia served dinner. Walter drowned his dinner with syrup and Scout made sure everyone knew she does not approve. “He ain’t company, Cal, he’s just a Cunningham.” She thinks she is better than him, just because her family is worth more money and her father has a better job. This is a very shallow way of seeing things. When Calpurnia confronts Scout about it, Scout takes it completely the wrong way and threatens that “one of these days when she wasn’t looking I’d go off and drown myself in Barker’s Eddy and then she’d be sorry.” Scout says what she thinks. Later in the chapter, Calpurnia tries to apologize. Scout quickly assumes Calpurnia is only being friendly to try and make peace. It barely crosses her mind that Calpurnia may just be trying to be friends, and perhaps Scout herself was wrong.
When Scout returns home she has a conversation with Atticus. Scout tells Atticus of the events of the day and complained that she didn’t want to go back to school. Scout respects Atticus so listened to what he had to say. “You never really understood a person until you consider things from his point of view.” He teaches Scout valuable lessons about judging people. Scout goes on to complain about how Miss Caroline wouldn’t let her read or write. She says that the Ewells don’t have to go to school. Scout listens to her father without interrupting him and takes on board what he has to say. Atticus then compromises saying if Scout continues at school, she can continue to read with him. Scout hastily agrees.
Scout is a spontaneous person. She says what she thinks without considering how it could affect people. She judges people on first impressions and is quite quick tempered. However she has a great deal of respect for Atticus and her heart is in the right place. Scout knows the difference between right and wrong.
