They had to deal with chipped walls and not being able to repaint them. They had to deal with the broken water fountains that remained broken year after year, leaving kids who can’t afford to buy water thirsty. They had to deal with the fact that their school was subpar compared to others. Not only did the staff have this burden on them, but the students had to face this knowledge every day. The "oh..." they get from people when they say what school they’re from. The judgment that is placed upon them just because of the school they go to. The mindset of being less than will follow them for years, slowly infiltrating their thoughts and actions. In a sense, the kids become tattered books themselves. They get pushed aside, stepped on by the state, and judged before they are even given the chance to show people who they really are. Tattered books to some people are just books, but they’re much more than that. They symbolize the struggle of growing up in a system that does not acknowledge your presence, listen to your opinions, or even give you a platform to voice them. But most importantly, it signifies perseverance and the will of those who choose to overcome their circumstances, refusing to become complacent where society places them.
Do we rot and spoil over like old meat the sun 's blaring rays? Do we crust and crumble under