As children, we often look to our parents for guidance and moral education. In the novel "To Kill A Mockingbird" by Harper Lee, Atticus Finch teaches his children many important lessons. The most important lesson he teaches his children is to not judge others. Atticus teaches this lesson both directly and indirectly by defending Tom Robinson, hiring Calpurnia, and being a neighbor to Boo Radley. Atticus has good intentions and tries to project them onto his kids as they grow up.
             First of all, Atticus decides to accept the case of Tom Robinson. Tom Robinson is a black man who is accused of raping a white woman and the people of his two assumed his guilt based on the color of his skin. When Atticus' daughter, Scout, asked why he took the case, Atticus explains that "If I did not take the case I would not be able to hold my head up in town or even tell you or Scout to not do something again" (Lee 75). The townspeople have already judged Tom as guilty because of the color of his skin; however, Atticus treats him with the same respect that he would give any other man. Throughout the case, Scout realizes the Tom is not guilty and deserves to be treated equally and not with prejudice.
             Secondly, Atticus does not only help out the black community, he also hires a black servant named Calpurnia. Calpurnia acts as a mother to Jem and Scout reinforces his lessons. One day, after scout picks a fight with Walter Cunningham, a poor farmer, Jem invites him over for dinner. At dinner, Scout thinks that it is weird that Walter pours syrup all over his food and confronts him about it. Calpurnia hears what Scout says and pulls her into the kitchen and says "yo' folks may be better'n the Cunninghams but it don't count for nothin' the way you're disgracing 'em" (Lee 25). There is a social class system in the town of Maycomb and Calpurnia tells Scout that it is not right to judge someone based on what ...