The headmistress scowled at the student sitting in her office. This had been the third time this month she had been sent to the principal, and always for similar reasons.

This time it was because the science teacher had had enough of the incessant questions. A week ago the English teacher had ended up contradicting herself while debating with the student. A week before that the math teacher was upset the student got the correct answer - and in a logical way - but did not follow the steps the teacher had taught.

”In my office again, Mabel? This is not the type of tradition we like to see,” the principal sneered. “We had agreed you would step in line after the last…” the principal sighed heavily “… incident.” She emphasized “incident”, making it sound like a particularly egregious offense.

”Yes, ma’am,” Mabel whispered in the direction of her own shoes.

”I consider myself a Gardner, Mabel, and this school is my garden, dear.” Mabel thought the principal didn’t really think she was a dear. “And you students are my flowers. I love looking out and seeing my beautiful wildflowers. You don’t want to stand out like a weed in a garden of wildflowers, do you, Mabel?”

“There is no scientific difference between a weed and other flowers,” Mabel said, this time toward the penny on the ground near the lamp.

”What was that, my dear?” The headmistress asked.

Mabel didn’t know if she actually didn’t hear her or if she didn’t understand her, or if she simply wanted silent obedience.

Mabel was not one to silently obey. She didn’t think either of those - silence nor obedience- were conducive to education.

”Weeds are wildflowers. There is no scientific definition that separates weeds from flowers. It is purely a human construct and classification used to show preference for one item over another.”