Part I: Pages 20 through 45 Summary and Analysis

August 5: Codell is happy when the architect takes her around the school building under construction. When the building is finished, she will be teaching the fifth grade. She is taken to what will be her classroom. She is annoyed to see bullet holes in one window pane (which will be replaced), and is also annoyed that it doesn't "smell" like a classroom. She loves the unique smell of a school.

August 16: The thirty-five new teachers are introduced in front of the community, including Codell. All assembled, it's clear there is a disproportionate amount of twenty-something, slender white girls. Mr. Turner insists that teachers have something to offer beyond what's stated in their resumes, and Codell suspects that that "something" is being white, young, and attractive.

September 18: Codell has been busy readying her classroom for the...