Discussion Topic
Burris Ewell's First Day at School
Summary:
On his first day of school, Burris Ewell, from a notoriously uneducated family, causes a scene when a "cootie" crawls from his hair, alarming the new teacher, Miss Caroline. She instructs him to clean up and return, but he defiantly states he only attends the first day due to truancy laws before leaving. His rude departure and insults leave Miss Caroline in tears. The Ewells' annual single school attendance is a longstanding, accepted practice due to their family's disregard for education.
What occurs to Burris Ewell on his first school day?
Burris Ewell is sent home by Miss Caroline on the first day of school because of a "cootie" in his hair. Miss Caroline is a new teacher, and she is unaccustomed to Maycomb and the different people who live there. She notices something crawling in the hair of one of her pupils, Burris Ewell:
"It's alive!" she screamed.
The male population of the class rushed as one to her assistance...
Miss Caroline pointed a shaking finger not at the floor nor at a desk, but to a hulking individual unknown to [Scout]...
Miss Caroline said desperately, "I was just walking by when it crawled out of his hair… just crawled out of his hair-"
Little Chuck grinned broadly. "There ain't no need to fear a cootie, ma'am. Ain't you ever seen one? Now don't you be afraid, you just go back to your desk and teach us some...
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more" (To Kill a Mockingbird, Chapter 3).
Miss Caroline is greatly disturbed by what she sees in her student's hair. She speaks to Burris about the matter. She suggests that he leave immediately and wash his hair with lye soap and kerosene. Burris informs his teacher that he has already "done [his] time for this year." Another student tells Miss Caroline that Burris always comes to the first day of school and does not return until the following year. Burris announces that he has done this for three years. To Miss Caroline, this fact is shocking. To the other students, this is normal for a member of the Ewell family.
Burris is ready to leave school, but Miss Caroline tells him to return to his seat. He refuses, and Miss Caroline relents. She tells him to leave, which Burris does with a snort. Before he exits the room, Burris speaks rudely to Miss Caroline, even calling her a "slut." His words make her cry and he leaves.
Why did Burris Ewell attend school only on the first day?
The Ewells don't really go in for formal education all that much—or any other kind of education, for that matter. Maycomb's most hated clan is as notorious for its invincible ignorance as it is for its terminal sloth. And Burris Ewell is a proud part of that long-standing family tradition. He sees about as much of school as he does of soap and hot water, turning up on the first day of school each year and then going straight back home to the family shack, where he remains for the rest of the term.
Burris isn't playing hooky; this is an arrangement of long standing between the Ewells and the education authorities. They've pretty much given up on teaching Burris, but in order to tick the relevant bureaucratic boxes, they at least have to show that he turned up for school, even if it's just once a year. Unfortunately, no one seems to have told the new teacher Miss Caroline about this arrangement, and so she vainly tries to get Burris to stay in class, but all to no avail.
Burris Ewell only came to school on the first day because his truancy officer required him to be in attendance one-day out of the school year. After Miss Caroline witnesses a "cootie" crawl out of Burris' hair, she tells him to bathe before coming to school the next day. Burris responds by saying, "I was on the verge of leavin'---I done done my time for this year." (Lee 35) Scout tries to explain Burris' situation and tells Miss Caroline that school attendance throughout the year is not required for the Ewells. When Miss Caroline asks about Burris' parents, the class tells her that the Ewell family has no mother and their father is "contentious." Burris proudly states that he's been coming to school on the first day for three straight years, and never attends any other days of school. Burris then argues with Miss Caroline after she tells him to sit down and threatens to report him to the principal. As Burris is leaving the school, he shouts insults toward Miss Caroline, which make her cry.