Briefly explain Isabel reasons for reading the names on the school register

Isabel starts to look at the class register; as she reads out names, Thami points to where the students sit. Looking at names carved into Thami's desk, Isabel asks where his is and Thami responds that he doesn't "want to leave any part of [him] in this classroom" (p.17). Isabel says she has no problems with school, and that she believes her school years may be the happiest of her life, and Thami says that is not true for him. He tells her that school does not mean the same thing to white and black people.