How does the english class get punished for rachelle speaking up about symbolism? and what does melinda learn about speaking up

Rachel claims that Hawthorne didn’t actually intend to put hidden meaning into his work; she argues with the teacher and in revenge, Hairwoman assigns a 500-word essay on symbolism. The whole class is angry at Rachel; Melinda knows the pitfalls of speaking up when you are a girl so she tells Rachel, “That’s what you get for speaking up.”