Württemberg 1871: Ever since she was a little girl, Sophie had dreamed of becoming a teacher - now she is attending the recently established seminar for female teachers. However, the schools in the country are under strict discipline, and the young women must endure a lot during their training and professional lives. Miserable accommodations, meager wages, and complete isolation are not the worst of it. Their male colleagues, on the other hand, are much better off. Instead of handing out slaps and head knocks, Sophie cares for the worries and needs of the children; she sees little purpose in simply drilling them with memory verses and hymns. With her empathetic nature and modern attitude, the young educator often finds herself at odds with others. While she fights for respect and recognition, she also tries to unravel the mysterious suicide of her colleague Hanna - together with the charming photographer Gustav Leber.