Fire blight is one of the deadliest diseases found in apple and pear trees. It strikes during many phases of the tree's growth and flowering. Outbreaks can occur anywhere but are especially prevalent in the northeastern United States, where periodic outbreaks affect both commercial and backyard orchards.
Only Barbara Henry was willing to teach Bridges, and for over a year Mrs. Henry taught her alone, as if she were teaching a whole class.. That first day, Ruby and her adult companions spent the entire day in the principal's office; the chaos of the school prevented their moving to the classroom until the second day.
Ruby Bridges' first few weeks at Frantz School were not easy ones. Several times she was confronted with blatant racism in full view of her federal escorts. On her second day of school, a woman threatened to poison her. After this, the federal marshals allowed her to only eat food from home.