Chapter 1 My daughter Lily Walsh locked herself in her room , sobbing until her whole body shook . I pried open the door to find her clutching a test paper that had been torn apart and pieced back together . It was an Advanced Mathematics Competition qualifying tournament paper - perfect answers , but a glaring zero marked in red . " Mommy , " she cried , " the teacher said 3 × 5 doesn't equal 5 × 3 , that it was cheating . She tore up my paper in front of everyone , canceled my qualification , and told the whole class not to talk to me anymore ... " I stared at the deep red scratch mark on my daughter's wrist and picked up the phone to call the principal directly . " I have just one question - what benefit does driving a math - loving child to despair bring to your school's reputation ? " The phone was hung up , leaving only the dial tone buzzing in my ear . Lily's sobbing stopped . She just looked at me , her eyes hollow and empty . I helped her put on her coat , took her ice - cold hand , and headed straight to the school . When I pushed open the Advanced Mathematics Competition office door , the laughter inside came to an abrupt halt . Several teachers turned their gazes toward us . Linda Williams was leaning back in her chair , looking me up and down with a dismissive twist of her lips . " Which parent are you ? It's break time right now . " Without a word , I walked to her desk and slammed the pieced - together test paper in front of her . The fragments scattered across the table . That red " o " looked particularly glaring under the fluorescent lights . She let out a snort of laughter , picking up one of the pieces with two fingers and holding it up to her face . " Oh , this ? What , do you have a problem with my grading ? " " Does 3 times 5 equal 15 ? Does 5 times 3 equal 15 ? " I stared into her eyes as I asked . Chapter 1 0.82 % D Wanna watch the rest of " Office Girl " ? Download Drama Pops and watch the re .... Download " Of course they do . " She tossed the paper fragment back onto the desk . " But the problem - solving approach was wrong , so it's zero points ! I teach Advanced Mathematics Competition - logical rigor ! Not grocery store arithmetic ! If she doesn't follow the rules in solving problems today , what else won't she follow rules for tomorrow ? I tore up that paper to show her and the entire class what rules mean ! " She shot up from her chair , towering over me as her voice suddenly escalated . " I've seen plenty of parents like you ! You know just enough to be dangerous , then dare to interfere with professional teaching ! Children are corrupted by people like you ! Lazy thinking , taking shortcuts - all learned at home ! Now that there's a problem with your child , you have the nerve to come to school and make a scene ?! " With each word , she jabbed her finger at the desk , spittle flying onto my face . Behind me , Lily trembled even harder , her small hands desperately clutching my coat . " Say that again , " I glared at her with wide eyes , my voice a roar . " So what if I say it again ? " She stepped forward , almost bumping into me . " I'm saying you don't know how to raise a child ! You treat your kid like a trophy to show off , using all sorts of underhanded methods to push her into this and that . Now you come here questioning the teacher ? You're nothing but a troublemaker in education ! Get out of here ! Stop embarrassing yourself! " I looked into her eyes , speaking each word deliberately , " Linda , you tore up her perfect paper in front of the entire class , incited the whole class to isolate her , even physically grabbed and hurt her , abusing her . Now , in front of her , you're using the filthiest language to insult her mother . " I paused , then said clearly , " As a teacher , are you even qualified ? " " Abuse ? " She acted as if she'd heard the joke of the century , scoffing. " A teacher disciplining a student who made mistakes - isn't that perfectly natural ? It looks like your daughter's lack of discipline comes from being spoiled by you ! " With that , she actually walked around the desk and reached out to grab Lily's wrist . " Come here , I'll ' educate ' her properly in front of you today , let her know what's right and wrong ! " I yanked Lily behind me , using my own body as a shield in front of her . Linda grabbed at empty air , her fury escalating . " Get out of my way ! Don't interfere with my disciplining of students ! You educational troublemaker ! Go home ! Stop making a fool of yourself here ! " Chapter 1 0.82 % Her face flushed red with anger as she raised her hand . " Stop ! " an angry shout came from the doorway . Principal Richardson walked in with a grim expression , glaring harshly at Linda , who stiffly lowered her hand . He turned to me , his tone becoming controlled . " Ma'am , please come to my office to discuss this . "