How Does Atticus Raise His Children In To Kill A Mockingbird

A parent is someone who is a provider, protector, and a role model for their children. The novel, To Kill a Mockingbird explores the society of the 1930’s in Maycomb, Alabama, where Atticus Finch is a lawyer and a single parent raising two children named Scout and Jem. Atticus leads by example through his work, and through his actions. He has a great impact on the character of his children, who grow up to be open-minded like him. In the article “Raising a Moral Child,” Adam Grant talks about the ways in which parents can teach their children to be honorable people. The methods that the author talk about are similar to the methods that Atticus uses to raise his children in To Kill a Mockingbird. Scientific studies have shown that nurturing children

through praise and setting an example is the best way to raise a moral child. Atticus uses techniques similar to the ones mentioned in “Raising a Moral Child” to teach his children how to be ethical people. Parents send powerful messages to their children through their methods of raising them.
Parents have a copious amount of room to nurture their children, and the actions that they do during their kid’s childhood has a large impact on their child’s character. There are studies which suggest that, “anywhere from a quarter to more than half of [a parent’s] propensity to be giving and caring is inherited. That leaves a lot of room for nurturing, and the evidence on how parents raise kind and compassionate children flies in the face of what many of even the most well-intentioned parents do in praising good behavior, responding to bad behavior, and communicating their values” (Grant). The majority of what children learn is from what their parents teach them. Grant mentions that there is “a lot of room for [nurturing],” in parenting because children are able to learn from their parents. Kids do not simply inherit traits, people with experience teach them to be able to form their own traits. Parents obviously have a large impact on their children, but what is most valuable is that parents “[praise] good behavior, [respond] to bad behavior, and [communicate] their values.” Atticus Finch does all three very effectively, and the result is that his children grow up to be morally conscious.
As a parent, Atticus has a responsibility to his children to show them what to do, as well as give them advice on what is ethically right and wrong. “‘She had her own views about things, a lot different from mine, maybe...Son, I told you that if you hadn't lost your head I'd have made you go read to her…. 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. It's when you know you're licked before you begin but you begin anyway and you see it through no matter what’” (Lee 112). Atticus’ methods of nurturing his children are similar to the ones that Grant mentions in “Raising a Moral Child.” For instance, Atticus “[praises] good behavior” (Grant), when he shows that Jem did a kind, benevolent job by going to read to Mrs. Dubose. He explains that it was the right action to do, because it was a step in helping her overcome her morphine addiction, as well as the fact that it taught the children what “real courage is” (Lee). Atticus “responds to bad behavior” (Grant), when he points out that Jem had “lost his head” when he stomped on Mrs. Dubose’s flowers. Finally, Atticus communicates his values to his children when he explains that “[Mrs. Dubose] had her own views about things” (Lee). This conveys to his children that everyone is entitled to their own opinion, and you cannot be mean to a person simply because they disagree with you. Moreover, Atticus teaches his children an essential life lesson when he explains that courage is when someone does something because it is right, not because it will make you seem stronger or because it will result in a successful outcome. Through Atticus’ nurturing, Jem and Scout become ethical people.
Parents have many methods of trying to make their kids behave well, but the method that works the best, is to give children praise. Grant recognizes that praise is of utmost importance in getting children to have moral behaviors, “To reinforce caring as the right behavior, research indicates, praise is more effective than rewards. Rewards run the risk of leading children to be kind only when a carrot is offered, whereas praise communicates that sharing is intrinsically worthwhile for its own sake” (Grant). It is important for parents to give their children praise when they make positive contributions. As Grant points out, “rewards run the risk of leading children to be kind only when a carrot is offered” which can be detrimental because the children will not do the right action because it is the right action, they will do it in hopes of getting a reward. On the other hand, by praising a child, the child can remember the proud feeling they get when their parent acknowledges their hard work and efforts, and therefore will continuously try to become better, simply because it is the right action to do. Atticus parenting consists of rare praise, but he does not bribe his children with rewards. He acknowledges the idea that by praising his children, they will learn how to find the value in helping others, rather than just hoping to get rewarded for their actions.
Atticus raises his kids to be morally conscious people through his use of praise when they do the right tasks.

It snows for the first time ever in Jem and Scout lifetime, because they live in the warm setting of Maycomb Alabama, where it rarely snows. Jem works very hard to build a snowman by collecting snow from various neighboring yards, and shows off his hard work to Atticus. Atticus views the sculpture and says, “‘I didn't know how you were going to do it, but from now on I'll never worry about what'll become of you, son, you'll always have an idea.’ Jem’s ears reddened from Atticus’s compliment” (Lee 74). When Atticus says, “I’ll never worry about what’ll become of you, son” he is praising Jem’s creative idea. Even if the snowman was obviously not done by an artist, Atticus still found a way to praise the positive aspects of his son’s creative attempts. This comment had a lasting impact on Jem because “[his] ears reddened from Atticus’s compliment.” Atticus only praises his children occasionally, but when he does, it means a great deal to them. The praise that he gives in this situation is “intrinsically worthwhile” (Grant), and Jem will most likely remember it and do other actions that are creative, like this, because of the feeling that he experienced when Atticus praised him. Atticus is able to convey the message that it feels rewarding to simply do the right act, and therefore Scout and Jem will go on to do more respectable actions in the

future.
In order for children to really absorb what it means to do virtuous actions, it is important that parents model honest behavior in front of their children. Grant explains a common misconception that parents often have about actions and character, “If you don’t model generosity, preaching it may not help… People often believe that character causes action, but when it comes to producing moral children, we need to remember that action also shapes character” (Grant). There is so much value in modeling worthy behavior. Children observe what their parents, and other adults who they respect do, and they imitate that behavior. It is like the theory of monkey see, monkey do, where ultimately, the child is the monkey who watches their parents actions and then follow in their footsteps. Grant points out that “action also shapes character” and in order for a child to develop a moral character, they must see how someone like their parent models that behavior. In To Kill a Mockingbird, There are women who “don't model generosity” (Grant), rather, they “[preach] it” (Grant). The children do not understand that they should actually do generous acts, because they only ever hear people talk about doing it. In contrast, Atticus truely models benevolent behavior, and therefore, his children directly observe someone doing what is right, and this is key in raising a moral child.
The women in Aunt Alexandra’s missionary circle preach kindness, but when it comes to actually doing justice by their black neighbors, they show no interest.

Scout sits in on Aunt Alexandra’s missionary circle, and the women involved are very hypocritical. They refer to children in Africa as being poor, and they express a desire to send money to try to help them. However, as soon as the option to help black people in their own town faces them, they ignore the opportunity and are racist instead. (Lee). When people advise the women to be kind to black people far away, they think that they are helping, but the lesson does not really sink in because they do not actually see anyone helping black people in real life. Therefore, Grant’s theory that “if you don't model generosity, preaching it may not help” (Grant) is accurate. The women do not see anyone modeling generosity towards black people in their own county. Therefore, they treat black people with disrespect, just like everybody else who is racist in Maycomb. Furthermore, these women do not go back into their lives and “model generosity” (Grant). Rather, they “[preach] it” and subsequently misconstrue the message because people tell them to be nice to minorities, but they feel as though it is taboo to care about the minorities living next

door.
In contrast, Atticus actually does benevolent work and gives respect to the black people right in his community, and his children are able to learn from his actions. Scout hears rumors at school, and asks her father for clarification on what she’s heard. She says, ‘You aren't really a n*****-lover, then, are you?’ ‘I certainly am. I do my best to love everybody... I'm hard put, sometimes—baby, it's never an insult to be called what somebody thinks is a bad name. It just shows you how poor that person is, it doesn't hurt you’” (Lee). Scout questions the intent of her father based on what kids have said at school. The racist society that the children grew up in brainwashed, and bring their parents words with them to school. The idea of Atticus being a “n*****-lover” was an idea that other kids in Scout’s school brought up. The fact that Atticus is actually being kind to the black people in their community set an example for Scout and Jem to follow. He says, “I do my best to love everybody” and through Atticus’ actions, it is apparent that he does his best to treat everybody with respect because he realises that everyone is equal. In the article, “raising a moral child” the author explains that “ action also shapes character.” (Grant). Atticus’s kind and just actions towards the people around him, help to shape his character, which his children can use as an example when they lead their own lives. Moreover, Atticus teaches his children a valuable lesson when he says, “it's never an insult to be called what somebody thinks is a bad name. It just shows you how poor that person is” (Lee). It is important for Scout and Jem to understand that what someone says about someone else says more about that person than it does about the person they’re talking about. Through Atticus’ actions and advice, his children will grow up to follow his example and hopefully become moral and ethically conscientious individuals.
Ultimately, parents are essential in the development of their children’s character. From the lessons they teach, to the praise that they give, to the example they lead, parents are preparing their children for what is to come in the real world. Atticus uses praise, and other important techniques to raise his children to be moral people. It is important that parents introduce their children to things that will ultimately help them become better people in the long run, because they have their entire future, and they way that it is pursued, is determined by their character.