Matilda Case

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If the Wormwoods were evaluated by the HOME scale, without a doubt their home would be deemed “bad quality” for Matilda’s growth. There are many characteristics to a high-quality home life that were learned in class. Some including, emotional and responsive parents, parent acceptance, stimulation of academic acceptance, and many other characteristics that were just not fulfilled by her parents. One would hope that the school Matilda attended would fill in the gaps from lack of support from home, but Matilda could not seem to catch a break.

Matilda’s school was very old, ugly, and run down. On top of this, her principal Ms. Trunchbull hated everything about children. Ms. Trunchbull liked punishment and bullying children. It was clear the principle did not care for the children’s development or learning. A young girl with pig-tails was swung around by her braids because Ms. Trunchbull did not like them. Fortunately, this was just a movie, and it is even more fortunate that despite having a horrible principal Matilda had a supportive teacher in her life. I would describe Miss Honey’s teaching as child-centered approach which was very positive. Her kids learned by singing songs and doing activities rather than the drill type of learning preferred by Ms. Trunchbull.

In theory, Matilda should have turned out completely different than the bright happy girl she was. She truly beat all odds, due to her not receiving any support from anyone but herself and Miss Honey. Before the age of three, Matilda could make pancakes, write her name, and read. In school she could add large numbers in her head and read at a college level at 6 years old. Furthermore, Matilda had the ability to comprehend complex adult concepts like relationships and judgment of right and wrong, well beyond her years. With the unsupportive conditions she lived under her development; both emotional and educational should have been delayed.

Of course most movies conclude with a happy ending and Matilda was no exception. In the end, the FBI caught onto the Woodworms because of their stolen products. In a heartbeat her mother and father signed adoption papers for Miss Honey to take custody as they were planning to flee to another country. With Matilda still young, I believe that as an adopted parent Miss Honey had the capability of nurturing and supporting Matilda into adulthood.

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