Atticus, a single parent, is criticized for the way he raises his children
You are right Atticus is a single parent, but the question you should be asking is why they treat him that way.
They Criticize him because he has diffrent values than the other families of maycomb. He believes that you should not live up to your family's name but live up to your own beliefs and values.
Aunt Alexandra thinks the exact opposite. that you should live up to your family name. In the book she tries to make up or Atticus by pretending to be nice and to really live up to the Finch family name to excuse the actions of Atticus (defending a "Negro")
The teacher, she is very new to the whole teaching thing and doesn't know what to do when a student is to samrt or smarter than all the other kids. so, thats when she tries to hold Scout back to try and make her the same as evryone else in her grade.
Hope that answers your question!!
the book
