The Academy at West Hills had been established in 1902 by Margaret Bleeker. She had written a ninety-eight-page handbook, which was to be memorized by the each of the boys who attended the school. It specified a code of conduct, and if any of the boys were in violation, they would face rather severe consequences, since corporal punishment was to be expected for even the slightest deviation from the rules.
Most importantly, it explained that: “The male student shall, above all, learn his place. This is the primary objective in educating the male student. He will come to know his position, which is below that of the female. He will learn his rank, which is beneath that of the female. He will accept his status, which is inferior to that of the female. In every thought, deed, and word, the male student will be expected to display obedience and submission to the female student. Any failure in this regard will result in a well-deserved, humiliating punishment, for which the male student is expected to show gratitude, as it is for his benefit that he is being disciplined.”
Emily, Madison, Charlotte, Sarah, Juliette, and Maya return to the Academy for a second semester, to see what kind of trouble they can get up to. Or as Emily puts it, “the fun kind of trouble.”