Why doesn't Reverend Sykes make Jem and Scout leave the courtroom in Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird?

Jem convinces Reverend Sykes that Scout doesn’t know what is going on at the trial.

Reverend Sykes sees Scout and Jem in the courtroom and notices that they do not have seats.  He tells them that there are no seats downstairs, and offers them seats upstairs in the balcony with the rest of the African-American population of Maycomb.

Reverend Sykes edged his way upstairs. In a few moments he was back. “There’s not a seat downstairs....

Jem convinces Reverend Sykes that Scout doesn’t know what is going on at the trial.

Reverend Sykes sees Scout and Jem in the courtroom and notices that they do not have seats.  He tells them that there are no seats downstairs, and offers them seats upstairs in the balcony with the rest of the African-American population of Maycomb.

Reverend Sykes edged his way upstairs. In a few moments he was back. “There’s not a seat downstairs. Do you all reckon it’ll be all right if you all came to the balcony with me?” (Ch. 17)

The trial is not necessarily the best place for children, especially an eight-year-old girl.  This is why Reverend Sykes thinks that Scout should leave.  

Reverend Sykes leaned across Dill and me, pulling at Jem’s elbow. “Mr. Jem,” he said, “you better take Miss Jean Louise home. Mr. Jem, you hear me?” (Ch. 17)

When Jem says Scout does not understand, Scout protests that she does know what is going on.  The reverend is worried about whether or not Atticus knows that Scout is there.  Jem says Atticus can’t see them from where they are seated in the balcony. 

Bob Ewell causes a stir with his crude language when he is testifying about the supposed rape, and Judge Taylor makes an announcement that women and children might want to leave.  His response is that people “generally see what they look for, and hear what they listen for, and they have the right to subject their children to it.”

It is actually Dill who gets upset, and not by the rape testimony.  He has to be taken out of the trial because he gets physically ill reacting to Mr. Gilmer's cross-examination of Tom Robinson and the racism he uses.  He can't stand to hear him speak to a grown man in such a patronizing manner.