Year End 3

Translator: Cinder Translations

...

During Austin's report on naval matters, Paul inquired about the Southern Star.

"Just received a letter sent by adventurous riders. Based on this, they should already be in the middle of the kingdom's coastline."

"Can they make it back before Landing Day?"

Austin shook his head, "Not optimistic. They might not even make it back by the New Year."

"Why is it taking so long?"

"They are sailing north against the wind, and the letter mentioned two additional women. Naturally, they can't travel as freely as they did when they left. They need to dock frequently to replenish fresh water and the like."

"Oh, I forgot about that."

"Also, according to the information in the letter, Lady Ladia's identity has been exposed."

"Haha, I'm sure Quik will be surprised. Is there anything else to add regarding the military?"

Their conversation puzzled many people. Many knew that the green-haired female advisor had gone with the Southern Star to pick up family members, but they didn't understand what it meant for her identity to be exposed.

Chief of Staff Schroder spoke, "Lord Grayman, I have some suggestions regarding officer training."

Paul gestured for him to continue.

"The previous officer schools used crash courses to cram various knowledge into them. I suggest that starting next year, officer training should be more formalized and systematic."

"Very well, I agree with this suggestion."

"Considering that we have just formed our army recently and urgently need many junior officers, we can temporarily implement a one-year program. Later, when the need is less pressing, we can extend it to three or four years."

"How will we recruit students for the military academy, and how will we arrange for them after graduation?"

"We can directly recruit young people from civilian life who can read and write and aspire to join the military. We can also select soldiers from the army who have performed well or earned merit and have them enter the military academy for further studies."

"After graduation, based on their performance, they will be awarded the rank of sergeant or lieutenant and serve as platoon-level officers, starting from the grassroots level."

Paul agreed to Schroder's proposal.

"Very well, please draft a charter for this."

"Yes, my lord."

"Chief Schroder, don't forget about our navy."

"Naturally, I won't neglect one for the other."

"We also need to strengthen civilian education!"

A silver-bell-like voice rang out, belonging to Miss D'Arshi, the female advisor.

"So far, the teaching methods at the Weis Academy have been quite rudimentary. I hope Lord Grayman can pay more attention to this."

"Do you have any good suggestions?"

Eileen thought for a moment and said, "I hope we can emulate the model of those church schools, where children are grouped into different grades based on their age upon enrollment, and adopt a system of dividing classes rather than cramming everyone into one classroom."

Paul asked, "How many grades should we divide it into?"

"I suggest a five-year system, divided into grades one through five. Also, we need to divide the curriculum, with at least the 'Seven Arts' being mandatory."

The so-called 'Seven Arts' refer to logic, grammar, rhetoric, mathematics, geometry, astronomy, and music—seven subjects commonly taught in church-established schools.

"Very well!" Paul said, "Aside from literacy, we'll keep grammar, mathematics, and geometry from the Seven Arts. Additionally, we'll reduce the five grades to four grades. Children can start attending school after turning six."

He added, "However, general literacy education for the entire society must continue. We also need to establish special classes for 'adult students' and continue night schools for non-disruptive subjects."

Eileen was dissatisfied, "Why cut so many courses and reduce grades?"

Paul shrugged helplessly, "Miss D'Arshi, there's a rather harsh reality—we lack sufficient teaching staff. If you can hire enough teachers for me, I'd be happy to offer these courses."

Just as Paul finished speaking, a voice that Eileen particularly disliked chimed in, "Besides, what the Lord cut off from us commoners won't be of much use anyway. All they need is literacy and basic arithmetic."

It was Hansel Abbott. Eileen didn't even want to acknowledge him. His attitude towards refugees was still so bad, and Earl Grayman had only mentioned it to him during that meeting.

She had approached Paul privately many times, each time being brushed aside, which was infuriating.

"As for why we need to reduce grades, I don't want children to be as comfortable as they are in church schools. I want to hear the continuous sound of reading from the Weis Academy throughout the entire day."

Paul eagerly wanted to impose the pain he had suffered in his previous life on the poor flowers of this world. However, there was another important reason—children who turn ten can be sent to factories as apprentices.

"Ah, yes! Also, to prevent a large number of unqualified graduates, I propose adopting a 'lenient admission, strict graduation' approach. Annual year-end exams will be conducted, and those who fail will be retained. Graduation will also require passing exams. Certificates will be awarded to those who pass, proving their satisfactory performance in our school. Those who fail, unless they repeat and pass the graduation exam, will not receive a graduation certificate."

"I've noted that, Lord Earl!"

Eileen nodded and recorded with a quill pen in front of her. The suggestions made by Earl Grayman afterward were quite good.

Manager Ford asked, "What about expenses? Books, paper, and pens all cost money."

"My intention is—adult education will have to bear the cost of textbooks themselves, while for underage education, parents and the Ministry of Education will split the cost equally. As for teachers' salaries, they will be issued by the Ministry of Education, ensuring that teachers' salaries are no less than our administrative officers."

"Sir, this will be a significant expense."

"I guarantee that finances will be more ample next year, and once we establish a printing press and printing house, textbook costs will greatly decrease. Let's implement it for a year and see how it goes. If it doesn't work, we can adjust."

"Eileen, Earl, isn't it insufficient to establish just one school in the town center? A Weis Academy is too few for both the Alden and Byerldine earldoms."

"You're right. In that case, we'll establish a school in every town-level settlement and recruit students from surrounding villages. Once we have more funds, we'll build a school in every village, but I reckon that's a bit distant."

Paul replied as such. In his plan, there would definitely be more schools built. Investing in education overall would not lead to a loss, especially in this era when people were heavily dependent on lords.

(End of the Chapter)