How is the educational system in the novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, compared with today's public and charter schools?

Harper Lee portrays the educational system in the novel To Kill a Mockingbird as rigid and meaningless. Scout's first-grade teacher, Miss Caroline, rebukes her for being able to read and write at such a young age. Instead of facilitating Scout's abilities, Miss Caroline attempts to stifle Scout's development by telling her not to read with her father. Miss Caroline also does not consider the interests of her students and continues to read stories which bore them. Scout even decides to write Dill a letter in the middle of an uninteresting flash card activity. Later on in the novel, Scout's third-grade teacher, Miss Gates, is portrayed as a hypocrite for commenting that persecution and prejudice does not exist in America. Harper Lee's cynical view of the educational system in the novel correlates with the negative aspects of public schools nationwide.

In today's society, standardized testing is the foremost concern of each public school. Ethics and morals are no longer taught in schools, and the predominant focus is directed towards mathematics, science, and English. Many students are uninterested in their classes, and the public school system is beginning to neglect the arts and humanities nationwide. However, charter schools do offer students a more flexible educational experience geared towards their specific interests. Charter schools are still considered public schools, but operate in a different manner. Many charter schools offer classes that focus on science, technology, or the arts. Students who are interested in pursuing careers that charters schools specialize in have the option to transfer from their home schools. Harper Lee would probably favor charter schools over public schools, but her underlying views of the educational system as a whole would remain negative.