Responding to Character - Miss Caroline Q1

Post your comments:
1. You should say something worthwhile.
You should focus on the impression that you have of the characters of Miss Caroline and
Burris Ewel in this extract.
2. There should be no socialising or making personal comments in the posting.
3. Check that your comments are free of grammatical and spelling mistakes
before you post them.
4. It will be a bonus if you are able to make further comments on your friends’
postings.


“Well, Burris,” said Miss Caroline, “I think we’d better excuse you for the rest of the afternoon. I want you to go home and wash your hair with medicated soap. When you’ve done that, treat your scalp with kerosene.”

“What fer, missus?’

‘To get rid of the, er, cooties. You see,Burris, the other children might catch them, and you wouldn’t want that, would you?”

The boy stood up. He was the filthiest human I have ever seen. His neck was dark grey, the backs of his hands weremrusty, and his finger-nails were black deep into the quick.

“And, Burris,” said Miss Caroline, “please bathe yourself before you come back tomorrow.”

The boy laughed rudely. ‘You ain’t sending me home, missus. I was on the verge of leaving – done my time for this year.”

Miss Caroline looked puzzled. “What do you mean by that?”

The boy did not answer. He gave a short contemptuous snort.

One of the older members of the class answered her, "He’s Mr Ewell’s son, ma’am. He come first day every year and then leave. The truant lady gets him here ‘cause she threatens the family with the sheriff, but she’s give up tryin’ to hold him. You are supposed to mark him absent for the rest of the year….”

“What about his parents?” asked Miss Caroline, in genuine concern.

"Ain't got no mother," was the answer, 'and their father's right contentious."

Burris Ewell was flattered by the remark. “Been comin’ to the first day o’ the first grade for three year now,” he said.

Miss Caroline said, “Sit down please, Burris,” and the moment she said it, Burris flashed to anger.

“You try and make me, missus.”

Little Chuck got to his feet. “Let him go ma’am,” he said. ‘He’s a mean one, a hard-down mean one……..”

“Burris, go home, If you don’t I’ll call the principal,” she said. “I’ll report this, anyway.”

The boy snorted and slouched leisurely to the door.

Safely out of range, he turned and shouted: “Report and I dare ye! Ain’t no school teacher ever born can make me do nothing! You ain’t making me go nowhere, missus. You just remember that, you ain’t making me go nowhere!!”

He waited until he was sure she was crying, then he shuffled out of the building.

Soon we were clustered around her desk, trying out various ways to comfort her. Miss
Caroline smiled, blew her nose, and said,” Thank you, darlings.”

Adapted from To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
*cooties: head lice
* truant lady: an official from the Ministry of Education who monitors absenteeism of students

What does this extract tell you about Miss Caroline as a teacher? Support your
answer with evidence from the extract.

Responding to Character - Miss Caroline Q2

Post your comments:
1. You should say something worthwhile.
You should focus on the impression that you have of the characters of Miss Caroline and
Burris Ewel in this extract.
2. There should be no socialising or making personal comments in the posting.
3. Check that your comments are free of grammatical and spelling mistakes
before you post them.
4. It will be a bonus if you are able to make further comments on your friends’
postings.


“Well, Burris,” said Miss Caroline, “I think we’d better excuse you for the rest of the afternoon. I want you to go home and wash your hair with medicated soap. When you’ve done that, treat your scalp with kerosene.”

“What fer, missus?’

‘To get rid of the, er, cooties. You see, Burris, the other children might catch them, and you wouldn’t want that, would you?”

The boy stood up. He was the filthiest human I have ever seen. His neck was dark grey, the backs of his hands were rusty, and his finger-nails were black deep into the quick.

“And, Burris,” said Miss Caroline, “please bathe yourself before you come back tomorrow.”

The boy laughed rudely. ‘You ain’t sending me home, missus. I was on the verge of leaving – done my time for this year.”

Miss Caroline looked puzzled. “What do you mean by that?”

The boy did not answer. He gave a short contemptuous snort.

One of the older members of the class answered her, "He’s Mr Ewell’s son, ma’am. He come first day every year and then leave. The truant lady gets him here ‘cause she threatens the family
with the sheriff, but she’s give up tryin’ to hold him. You are supposed to mark him absent for the rest of the year….”

“What about his parents?” asked Miss Caroline, in genuine concern.

"Ain't got no mother," was the answer, 'and their father's right contentious."

Burris Ewell was flattered by the remark. “Been comin’ to the first day o’ the first grade for three year now,” he said.

Miss Caroline said, “Sit down please, Burris,” and the moment she said it, Burris flashed to anger.

“You try and make me, missus.”

Little Chuck got to his feet. “Let him go ma’am,” he said. ‘He’s a mean one, ahard-down mean one……..”

“Burris, go home, If you don’t I’ll call the principal,” she said. “I’ll report this, anyway.”

The boy snorted and slouched leisurely tothe door.

Safely out of range, he turned and shouted: “Report and I dare ye! Ain’t no school teacher ever born can make me do nothing! You ain’t making me go nowhere, missus. You just remember that, you ain’t making me go nowhere!!”

He waited until he was sure she was crying, then he shuffled out of the building.

Soon we were clustered around her desk, trying out various ways to comfort her. Miss Caroline smiled, blew her nose, and said,” Thank you, darlings.”


Adapted from To Kill a Mockingbird by HarperLee

*cooties: head lice

* truant lady: an official from the Ministry of Education who monitors absenteeism of students

2. What feelings do you have for Burris Ewell when you read this passage? Remember to refer closely to the text to explain your feelings.

Responding to Character - Miss Caroline Q3

Post your comments:
1. You should say something worthwhile.
You should focus on the impression that you have of the characters of Miss Caroline and
Burris Ewel in this extract.
2. There should be no socialising or making personal comments in the posting.
3. Check that your comments are free of grammatical and spelling mistakes
before you post them.
4. It will be a bonus if you are able to make further comments on your friends’
postings.

“Well, Burris,” said Miss Caroline, “I think we’d better excuse you for the rest of the afternoon. I want you to go home and wash your hair with medicated soap. When you’ve done that, treat your scalp kerosene.”

“What fer, missus?’

‘To get rid of the, er, cooties. You see, Burris, the other children might catch them, and you wouldn’t want that, would you?”

The boy stood up. He was the filthiest human being I have ever seen. His neck was dark grey, the backs of his hands were rusty, and his finger-nails were black deep into the quick.

“And, Burris,” said Miss Caroline, “please bathe yourself before you come back tomorrow.”

The boy laughed rudely. ‘You ain’t sending me home, missus. I was on the verge of leaving – done my time for this year.”

Miss Caroline looked puzzled. “What do you mean by that?”

The boy did not answer. He gave a short contemptuous snort.

One of the older members of the class answered her, "He’s Mr Ewell’s son, ma’am. He come first day every year and then leave. The truant lady gets him here ‘cause she threatens the family
with the sheriff, but she’s give up tryin’ to hold him. You are supposed to mark him absent for the rest of the year….”

“What about his parents?” asked Miss Caroline, in genuine concern.

"Ain't got no mother," was the answer, 'and their father's right contentious."

Burris Ewell was flattered by the remark.
“Been comin’ to the first day o’ the first grade for three year now,” he said.

Miss Caroline said, “Sit down please, Burris,” and the moment she said it, Burris flashed to anger.

“You try and make me, missus.”

Little Chuck got to his feet. “Let him go ma’am,” he said. ‘He’s a mean one, a hard-down mean one……..” “Burris, go home, If you don’t I’ll call the principal,” she said. “I’ll report this, anyway.” The boy snorted and slouched leisurely to the door. Safely out of range, he turned and shouted: “Report and I dare ye! Ain’t no school teacher ever born can make me do nothing! You ain’t making me go nowhere, missus. You just remember that, you ain’t making me go nowhere!!” He waited until he was sure she was crying, then he shuffled out of the building. Soon we were clustered around her desk, trying out various ways to comfort her. Miss Caroline smiled, blew her nose, and said,” Thank you, darlings.”

Adapted from To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
*cooties: head lice * truant lady: an official from the Ministry of Education who monitors absenteeism of students

Have you experienced such an incident as described in the extract in your class? Describe what happened and how you felt at that time.