Paula's behavior suggests that she wants to pit Nelson and Kim against each other academically, and that what she wants most of all is to shame Kim and Ma when Nelson does well. Even as Paula runs the factory, she absolutely values education and is aware that it could be Kim's ticket out of the factory system. In turn, this makes Paula's continued mistreatment of Ma and Kim at the factory seem even crueller, as she understands that more time at the factory means that Kim has less time for school.