Though titled The Teacher’s Funeral, the description of Miss Myrt’s funeral is a small part of the novel. Why do you think Peck named the novel The Teacher’s Funeral? How does Miss Myrt’s death impact the community? The individual characters?

Russell uses many unflattering images to describe school. It is a “jailhouse,” and a “trough of learning.” Why does Russell dislike school so much? Why does he change his mind about education by the end of the novel?

Each of Tansy’s pupils learns differently and shows gifts in different ways. Pick three of Tansy’s pupils and, using support from the text, describe their unique intelligences.