Pupil I scold for being "free" (8)
I believe the answer is:
liberate
'being free' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
'pupil i scold' is the wordplay.
'pupil' becomes 'l'.
'scold' becomes 'berate' (synonyms).
'l'+'i'+'berate'='LIBERATE'
'for' acts as a link.
(Other definitions for liberate that I've seen before include "Free (someone)" , "Deliver" , "let go" , "Set free, release from slavery" , "Set free, emancipate" .)