In To Kill a Mockingbird, education is a central theme that highlights the contrast between formal schooling and informal learning. Harper Lee critiques the rigid and shallow nature of the educational system through the experiences of Scout Finch, who learns more from her father, Atticus, and life experiences than from her formal schooling. The novel emphasizes that true education extends beyond the classroom and is deeply intertwined with character development and understanding of the world.

Harper Lee presents formal education as flawed and limited. Miss Caroline, Scout's teacher, embodies the rigid and out-of-touch nature of the educational system. She discourages Scout's advanced reading skills, insisting that Atticus's informal teaching methods are harmful. Miss Caroline's approach reflects a belief that education should be uniform, ignoring individual student needs and abilities. This critique is evident when Miss Caroline tells Scout, "Your father does not know how to teach," highlighting the disconnect between formal schooling and meaningful learning.

Informal education plays a crucial role in Scout's development. Atticus Finch, through his daily interactions with Scout, teaches her valuable life lessons that formal schooling fails to provide. Calpurnia, the Finch family's housekeeper, also imparts important lessons to Scout, such as understanding and respecting others. During a meal with Walter Cunningham, Calpurnia teaches Scout a lesson in empathy and manners:

"There’s some folks who don’t eat like us," she whispered fiercely, "but you ain’t called on to contradict ‘em at the table when they don’t. That boy’s yo’ comp’ny and if he wants to eat up the table cloth you let him, you hear?"

This interaction underscores the idea that valuable education can occur outside the classroom, through relationships and real-life experiences.

Lee also addresses the racial inequalities in education. Black children in Maycomb do not attend school with white children, and their educational opportunities are limited. Calpurnia, one of the few literate black characters, stands out due to her education, which makes her more acceptable to some of the prejudiced whites in Maycomb. This disparity highlights the systemic inequalities that exist within the educational system and society as a whole.

Overall, To Kill a Mockingbird presents a critical view of formal education, advocating for a more holistic approach that values character development and personal growth. The novel suggests that true education is not confined to the classroom but is a lifelong process shaped by diverse experiences and relationships.