In Principal Gurney's absence, the administration of Jefferson Junior High is placed in the hands of the new English teacher and vice-principal Mrs. Clave, an ex-Army officer who fires Mr. Peepers when he stands up for one of his students.

Mr. Peepers' articles in Petal and Stem magazine impress the president of a seed company, who offers Peepers a twenty thousand dollar per year job. Lunch with company executives at their private business club, however, convinces Mr. Peepers that he would prefer to remain a science teacher at Jefferson Junior High.