"Your Majesty, how to distinguish between junior and intermediate levels? How much does Your Majesty plan to invest?"
Xue Ji asked weakly, but Zhao Hong glared at him and quickly shut up.
Everything is divided into six levels of teaching materials from simple to difficult, which is the same as the teaching materials for each level used by Jinling University.
As for investment, that's a matter for the Ministry of Finance, so don't let him worry about it.
"Your Majesty, don't worry. I will wait for you to think about it before reporting the rules and teaching materials to Your Majesty."
Zhen Dexiu and other officials exchanged glances and nodded in agreement.
After getting along with Zhao Hong for a long time, they are all used to Zhao Hong's way of doing things. They are not afraid of making mistakes and just do it.
"My lords, you have troubled yourself with the Compulsory Education Law and the textbooks for compulsory education. Let Liu Kezhuang and Zeng Ji from the Propaganda Department come and talk about it. I want to advocate for compulsory education in the newspapers and make compulsory education implemented throughout the country."
Zhao Hong talked eloquently, and his heart was also excited.
"To popularize compulsory education, we must have enough teachers. There may be enough Chinese teachers, but there is a general shortage of teachers in mathematics, history, geography, etc. I plan to establish Jinling Normal School in Jinling. Since Zhenqing is in charge of the Imperial College, the normal school is It’s up to you to take charge of the matter.”
In the implementation of compulsory education, teachers are the first to bear the brunt. As for the school building, you can borrow the old building and put new wine in old bottles.
As the educational management institution of the Song Dynasty, the Guozijian governed the Guozixue, Taixue, Four Schools, etc. under it. Each school had a doctorate and a person responsible for the management of Jijiu. The Imperial College has many educational talents, and it is within the scope of its authority to organize the Zhende Show.
"Jinling Normal School?"
Zhen Dexiu's heart started to beat loudly.
"That's right! First it was Jinling Normal School, then Lin'an Normal School, Sichuan Normal School and so on."
Zhao Hong said while thinking.
"To implement compulsory education, more than hundreds of thousands of teachers are needed? If there are not enough teachers, we have to find a solution. The establishment of Jinling Normal School is to build a school dedicated to training teachers. I will also recruit students in newspapers. To address the urgent shortage of teachers.”
In the Song Dynasty, with a population of 70 million and nearly 10 million school-age children, it was impossible to build just one normal school. First, build a Jinling Normal School, observe its effects, check for deficiencies and fill in the gaps, and then promote it in the Song Dynasty.
It is better to be deficient than excessive, this is also his consistent aim.
"Your Majesty, the literary style of the Song Dynasty is at its peak, but the total number of government schools and private schools at all levels is less than two million students. If all students aged 6-15 come to school for free, I am afraid that eight to nine million students will enroll for free. It is necessary Hundreds of thousands of teachers, nearly 10,000 schools.”
Zhen Dexiu sighed and shook his head vigorously.
The number of schools established in the Song Dynasty far exceeded that of any previous dynasty. In addition to the central government schools, 70% of the states have state schools and 40% of the counties have county schools. As for the vast countryside, even in remote areas, there are many kinds of village schools, rural schools, private schools, free schools, home schools, winter schools, etc. There are one or two in every lane and lane, and the sound of string chanting can often be heard in each other.
But even so, a large number of children drop out of school.
"Zhen Gong, don't forget that girls also need to go to school, but they can't be forced. But there is a bottom line. The school enrollment rate for girls of school age must be at least 30%."
The preference for boys over girls has been around for a long time and should not be rushed. As time goes by, when women's schooling is gradually accepted and fully promoted, there will be less pressure and things will come naturally.
The level of education determines the future of the country and nation. The implementation of compulsory education has become imperative.
"Your Majesty, if compulsory education is implemented, the teacher's fees alone for one year will probably cost tens of millions. With such a huge burden, I'm afraid the court will be stretched thin!"
Zhen Dexiu was very worried. As the Minister of Household Affairs, he was having a hard time.
"Don't worry, Mr. Zhen, compulsory education will not make the Song Dynasty poor!"
Zhao Hong laughed softly.
With the implementation of the New Deal, government taxes in various places have increased significantly. Isn't that enough to add a few schools?
"Your Majesty, since your Majesty has made up his mind, let me leave the matter of compulsory education to your Majesty!"
A master of true virtue and good Neo-Confucianism, he was young and powerful, and his blood was stimulated by Zhao Hongye.
"Zhen Gong, I have no intention of leaving it to anyone else. I can rest assured that you will handle the matter."
Zhao Hong smiled and then continued:
"Mr. Zhen, please gather the teachers of Jinling Lecture Hall and Jinling Academy and compile the teaching materials for schools at all levels as soon as possible. The punctuation marks and Arabic numerals must be promoted in the new teaching materials. In the next two years , I will implement compulsory education in Jiangnan Road, Liangzhe Road, and Sichuan Road. There is no need to delay!"
"Your Majesty, don't worry, I will do my best!"
Zhen Dexiu said solemnly.
Punctuation marks, as well as Arabic numerals, are not new. Except for the three major government-run schools, they have never been implemented in books. Maybe this time is a good attempt at popularization.
"True Lord, practice is the only criterion for testing truth. We are crossing the river by feeling the stones. If there are any problems, we will correct them. If we don't, we will encourage them. If we don't adapt, we will continue to modify them."
According to his ideas, he implemented compulsory education, instilled patriotism and martial arts in schools at all levels, and added military training courses that were more rigorous than physical education. With each generation in ten years, the future of the Song Dynasty was promising.
There is no other way. In the age of great strife, wars were frequent and troops were not prepared, and the price was very cruel.
"Your Majesty, I will do my best and will not let you down!"
Zhen Dexiu solemnly accepted the order.
To be honest, Zhao Hong's pragmatic, humble and adventurous style coincides with his sincere purpose of running a school.
"Your Majesty, is there a list of Enmeng's candidates? Does your Majesty have a Holy Judgment?"
Xue Ji asked cautiously.
"This is a quality evaluation report of the benefactor. You should take a look at it first."
Zhao Hong smiled and passed Xu Liang's list to all the officials.
Quality assessment report, I guess it won’t be long before this term becomes popular.
"Your Majesty, since there is a mixed bag of good and bad personnel, can the virtuous ones be promoted to officials, and those who cannot be reused should be sent to Jinling University. After they return from their studies, they will be promoted based on their academic merit."
Hu Ju, the minister who participated in the political affairs, said it with a smile.
"But it's up to His Majesty Qiankun to make the decision."
Zhen Dexiu said bravely, feeling panicked.
Needless to say, the emperor was very dissatisfied with the carelessness and wanton behavior of the ruling ministers.
"But based on His Majesty's holy judgment!"
Xuan Zhen and Xue Ji did not dare to refute, and both agreed with Zhen Dexiu.
They have already enjoyed the dividends of becoming an official with the favor of the imperial court, and they dare not ask for more.
"Young people going to study at the Song Dynasty Naval Academy and Jinling University will not be considered. Today, the Daye Iron Factory and the Jingdezhen Porcelain Factory are in dire straits and need a large number of grassroots officials. If they want to go, I will welcome them with raised hands!"
It is estimated that most of these dandy boys will not do such "cool work", and he will not force it. Anyway, these ministers have rich families, so it doesn't matter if they raise a few losers.
It seems that he has to recruit a group of students from Jinling University to "build the front line."
"Your Majesty, Li Shao from the Champa Kingdom and several envoys from the Champa City are outside seeking to see you."
The guards came in to report, which surprised Zhao Hong and others.
"Invite them in!"
Zhao Hong was refreshed and could not have imagined that this Champa businessman would come back so quickly.
"The grassroots (foreign ministers) of Champa City pay their respects to the Emperor of the Song Dynasty!"
Li Shao and several envoys from the city knelt down and saluted Zhao Hong.
"Several distinguished envoys, Mr. Li, please sit down and talk."
With a smile on his face, Zhao Hong asked a few people to get up.
Needless to say, Champa agreed to "lease" or use the port in order to deal with the military bullying of Chenla and Dai Viet. Otherwise, they would not have sent envoys.
It seems that in the face of the destruction of their country and their family, Champa, like Xixia, has no choice but to seek help from outside.
For future plans, it seems necessary to support a Champa state, have a foothold overseas, and take back Dai Viet, the homeland of China.
