Chapter 15, The State Troopers- Chapter 16, A Natural Arrogance Summary and Analysis

In chapter fifteen, Sonny and Quentin and the rocket boy ask Mr. Hartsfield for help in learning calculus. He is unsupportive, asking Sonny how he can hope to learn calculus when he didn't understand algebra. Quentin intercedes and states they've been learning trigonometry on their own but Mr. Hartsfield won't agree. He finally says he'll do what Principal Turner says to do but that there is no hope of this class, that they are a football and coal miner's school and that's all they've ever been. The boys are outraged and go to the principal. Miss Riley gets her Irish up, and speaks to Mr. Hartsfield. West Virginia State Troopers, who have read about the boys in the paper, show up and accuse the boys of starting...