If you've been hanging around Attucks School, then you've probably heard that Abyssinia is quite the student. She wins awards, she graduates with honors, she sticks in her nose in her books and really applies herself to her exams. But school is only one of the places Abby receives an education in Marked by Fire. She learns just as much from Mother Barker by walking through the woods. In this book, education isn't reserved for the classroom—it comes in newspapers and through storytelling sessions, through recipe swaps and more. Sounds kind of awesome, right? We definitely think cake should be on every syllabus.
Questions About Education
- Which is a better education for Abby, the one she receives in school or the one she receives from Mother Barker? Why?
- Does it matter that Mother Barker seems to lack much formal schooling? Why or why not? Use the text to support your claim.
- Pick a non-school setting and explore how education transpires there. How about in the barbershop? Or on the porches?
Chew on This
Abby learns plenty in school, but it's what she learns from Mother Barker and the women of Ponca City that really teaches her what she needs to know.
Abby learns plenty from Mother Barker and the women of Ponca City, but her formal education matters more—it's key to her concept of self and sets her apart from people like Lily Norene.