School isn't really the center of Manny's world in Parrot in the Oven: Mi Vida; instead, it's kind of a nuisance. So that means he spends a lot of his school time thinking about things like hot teachers and baseball teams. At the same time, though, getting an education means a lot to Manny, and especially to his mom—she knows that getting a good education could make a huge difference in her son's life.
Sure, it's not easy to find teachers who really care about their students in this town, and it's no cakewalk to get Manny revved up for school. But in the long run, this kid gets on Team Mom and figures that getting a good education might just be the way to go. Pro tip: It certainly won't hurt.
Questions About Education
- How do the different characters value education? Are there characters that think it's the most important thing ever? How so? Are there any characters that think it's not worth all the effort? Why not?
- What is school like in this book? How does it help or hinder learning?
- How does Manny grow because of his experiences in school? Does school ever hold him back?
- Does education happen only in school? Where else does learning happen in this book, and how? Where does Manny learn the most?
Chew on This
School stinks, and since Manny doesn't really learn anything in school, it's a total waste of time.
School is a place where Manny learns tons of valuable life lessons, and this makes the whole experience worth it.