Chapters 26 & 27: Explorer Scout's confusion in class. What is the root of Scout's confusion about Miss Gates? How is Miss Gates being a hypocrite? Why does Harper Lee include this? What is the purpose? (Will Friedman)

In chapter 26, Scout gets confused about Miss Gates because she was being a hypocrite.  In school, Scout's class does an activity where each student researches a different current event then they present it to the class.  A boy named Cecil Jacobs comes to the front of class and introduces the topic of Adolf Hitler.  "... well anyway, old Adolf Hitler has been after the Jews and he's puttin' 'em in prisons and he's taking away all their property..." (Lee 327) Miss Gates seems to be really troubled by the topic and claims that Hitler is wrong and Jews are great people.  She goes on to tell the class how all people should be treated the same because America is a "democracy."  This last part is what causes Scout's confusion.  Later she tells Jem that Miss Gates was going down the steps the night of the courthouse in front of them.  "I heard her say it's time somebody taught 'em a lesson, they were gettin' way above of themselves..." (Lee 331) In this statement, Miss Gates is clearly referring to the Negro community and how they are becoming more equal.  This completely goes against what she said in class, therefore making her a hypocrite.  Harper Lee includes this to show that in the lovely county of Maycomb people still aren't as they seem, except for a few people like Atticus.  This also shows even though some people are becoming more towards equality for Negros, there still are many people in town who think the opposite.