The Logan children are the main characters of the novel. They attend a public school in Mississippi. Their school is not necessarily segregated within itself. Children attend different schools based on their race instead of the same school with specific restrooms, water fountains, seats, and more based on the students race. The African American children attend. The Great Faith Elementary and Secondary School, but, Caucasian children of the novel attend Jefferson Davis County School. Mildred Taylor described The Great Faith Elementary and Secondary School as one of the largest black schools in the county, consisting of four weather-beaten wooden houses on stilts of brick. While, Jefferson Davis County school was described as a long white wooden building looming in the distance with a large sports field behind it(Taylor 0). This considerably illustrates the idea of being separate and unequal.
The children are constantly reminded of the inequity in their schools system. The Logan siblings and their other African American friends all wa
lk to school every morning. While on their way a Caucasian male driving a big yellow bus full of white children, who belong to Jefferson Davis County School, speeds by the walking children splashing them with dusts and or mud for the Caucasian childrens amusement. On the first day of school during this new school year the youngest sibling, Little Man has just started his school journey. He is very particular about staying clean and not getting his clothes or shoes dirty on the walk to school. He plans to keep them clean the entire day. The big yellow bus prevents this from happening and this infuriates him. Stacey, the eldest sibling, tried to warn Little Man to move out of the way but, not directly informing him of the consequences. Afterwards Little Man asks Hows come they did that, Stacey, huh? Hows come they didnt even stop for us?.(Taylor 9) .Little Man did not yet understand that The Great Faith Elementary and Secondary School did not have a bus, nor did he understand that he and his siblings were being used for entertainment.