Final answer:
Sidley likely picks on her students as a manifestation of societal and educational issues, reflecting broader themes of prejudice and the pressures of expectation in the educational system, further enhanced narratively to elicit sympathy from readers.
Step-by-step explanation:
The character Sidley in the story likely picks on her students as a representation of the broader societal and educational issues touched upon in the text. The tension between Sidley's educational methods and the needs of her students is reflective of the quote from LibreTexts{™} which implies that societal prejudices and injustices often begin in the classroom. This notion is further supported by the dialogue between Claire and Elizabeth, which suggests that the pressures of living up to societal expectations can lead to a harsh approach in educational settings. Additionally, the narrative style, as mentioned in the context of Jewett's work, allows for the interjection of the narrator's perspective to elicit reader sympathy, which may contribute to Sidley's portrayal as harsh in order to invoke a specific emotional response from readers.