Damage Control

By Meredith Maran

When the bell rings at the start of fifth period, there’s one teacher—young, white, and female—and seven students, all African American boys, present in Heather Skibbons’ freshman English class. Seconds later, three black girls dash into the classroom breathlessly, stopping to sign the "tardy" list posted at the door.

"Hurry up and write down tonight’s homework, you guys," Skibbons instructs her students. "Your mentors will be here in a minute."

"I can’t! I broke my nail ...