To Kill a Mockingbird

Atticus is referring to the town climate..... the conflict between the people, the differing opinions, as well as the hurt. He is also referring to the fact that he cannot protect the children from the atmosphere they live in..... particularly when it has been created by the adults they look up to.

“I didn’t think it wise in the first place to let them—”
“This is their home, sister,” said Atticus. “We’ve made it this way for them, they might as well learn to cope with it.”
“But they don’t have to go to the courthouse and wallow in it—”
“It’s just as much Maycomb County as missionary teas.”