There are now five higher primary schools in Wuchang, divided into East, West, South, North and Middle schools, collectively referred to as
"Five-way higher primary school", each school enrolls about 100 students. Hua Shifang took Li Yu to a West Road primary school.
Since it is called
The students enrolled in "Higher Primary Schools" are not children aged seven or eight, but are generally teenagers who have received private school education.
However, considering that many children who have received good education in private schools often come from relatively prosperous families, they may not necessarily agree to let their children attend new-style primary schools.
Therefore, the enrollment requirements for schools will be relaxed appropriately. Therefore, the overall admission requirements for these higher primary schools are: able to recite one or two scriptures, proficient in arts and sciences, and between the ages of eleven and fourteen.
To put it simply, it can be understood as junior high school, but the learning content is not as good as that of later junior high schools.
Wuhan was one of the relatively westernized cities in China at the beginning of the 20th century. After all, the Hankou Concession was one of the three major concessions, as famous as the Tianjin Concession and the Shanghai Concession. But now it certainly doesn’t sound like something worth showing off.
Since Westernization is relatively deep, the impact of new-style primary schools will naturally be great. Many students in each new-style primary school take the initiative to apply.
After all, you can see the high-rise buildings in the concession every day across the river, and several large ships come by from time to time on the river. This is an impact directly in front of your eyes.
As for the more direct factor, the conditions provided by the new primary school are also very good. Hua Shifang is now also a capable person in the Wuchang education circle.
The person who "saw his face" had been a mathematics teacher at the best self-improvement school under Governor Zhang Zhidong for a long time. Schools everywhere knew this Huada person.
The school in Wuchang really wants to recruit Hua Shifang, but people nowadays are very local. Hua Shifang will return to Jiangsu soon and teach mathematics in two schools in Jiangsu. Two years later, he will become a teacher. Chief teacher of Shanghai Nanyang Public School.
After arriving at Xilu Primary School, Li Yu saw several parents bringing their children to register. ——Although the timing seems strange, it’s actually nothing, because in today’s new schools, people often come to sign up halfway, and there are no strict regulations such as the September start of school in later generations.
The management of new-style schools is relatively relaxed. Since the students who come here all have similar foundations, the classes are very easy to separate. It is normal for students in some classes to be three years apart.
Tuition fees at key new schools are not high. Just like the previous Chongshi School in Beijing, the annual tuition is only one or two cents.
In order to recruit students, many elementary schools and colleges not only do not charge tuition fees, but also give money to students who study well, which can be understood as scholarships.
At this time, several parents were chatting with each other: "Your accent sounds like you're not from Wuchang?"
"Yes, I'm from De'an Mansion. I heard that the schools here are good, but the kids are a bit stupid. I don't think there's any hope of getting into the exams, so why not come to a new school, maybe I can make a name for myself."
"Your child looks quite smart! My child can't do that. He changed to three private schools. He is really naughty and the private school doesn't want him anymore. On weekdays, the villagers use foreign adults to scare him. I think he can at least be obedient in the new school."
"Your children have at least studied for a few years. My children are not comparable and have not read many books. But I also know that there is a future in studying. Now I heard that the new school does not charge tuition fees and takes care of food and accommodation. Where can I find this kind of education? Plant good things!”
"Then you'd better let your child study hard. I heard you can get seven or eight taels of silver every year."
"Baby, did you hear that? If you study hard, you will get money!"
"I see your kids are already so old, but mine is just eleven years old."
"What's the point? Isn't it the same for someone who is decades behind in attaining fame?"...Anyway, the families who sent the children had various reasons, but Li Yu glanced over and couldn't see the girl. This concept is still not easy to change.
The receptionist at the registration desk was a foreigner in his thirties, who looked like a missionary. At present, students from schools such as the Beijing Normal University and the Normal School have not yet graduated. Basically, the schools built in various places will invite some foreigners to come as teachers.
Indeed, they are the only ones who know something about Western learning. Fortunately, the missionaries were more or less serious foreigners. The missionaries who could come to China at this time basically had formal education, and in order to establish a good image, they were really serious about education.
The missionary distributed the form to the students, and then said in Chinese: "Dear Chinese friends, please fill in the name, age, and place of origin of your child, and write down the level of education you have received below so that the school can divide it into classes. Teaching." Most of the forms were filled out by parents, except for one teenage child who seemed to do it by himself, picking up a brush and writing.
Li Yu was sneaking around to look at the school's layout. When he happened to pass by the child, he suddenly heard him whisper: "Oops, I wrote it wrong." Li Yu took a quick look and found out that he had written his age.
"Fourteen" was filled in the name column. Li Yu originally thought he would ask for another registration form, but he didn't expect that the child actually asked for another registration form.
The word "十" was changed to "十"
"李", followed by
Another one is added after the word "four"
"Light". Oh my God, this name? ! Li Siguang? The child quickly filled in the place of birth: Huanggang County, Huangzhou Prefecture.
Then I wrote about my educational experience, which basically consisted of attending classes at my own private school. After he handed in the registration form, Li Yu stopped him: "Li Siguang!" The child looked at Li Yu and said in surprise: "This is my new name. How did you know?" Li Yu said: "I was here just now. Everyone around me saw it." Li Siguang scratched his head: "You are not sent by my father, are you? There is nothing to worry about! I have already agreed with him that I want to learn new things and study abroad." Li Yu said: "I'm from the capital, and my name is Li Yu. Although my surname is Li, I don't know your father."
"Li Yu?" Li Siguang thought for a while,
"I have never heard of it in the village." Hua Shifang next to him smiled and said: "If you really stay abroad, you will probably hear Li Yu's name soon." Li Siguang looked at Hua Shifang and asked: "Grandpa, what are you talking about?" Who is it?" Hua Shifang is now fifty years old. At this time, people generally want to have children early, so there is nothing wrong with being called grandpa at fifty years old.
Hua Shifang said: "My name is Hua Shifang, and I used to be a mathematics teacher at Ziqiang School." Li Siguang said: "It turns out to be Mr. Hua! My father once mentioned you. He said that there were several good Western teachers in the provincial capital, including With you." Hua Shifang laughed loudly and looked at Li Yu: "I didn't expect that I am more famous than you." Li Yu also laughed and said: "After all, it is Hubei territory." Then he said to Li Siguang: "So, you Did you come to Wuchang by yourself?" Li Siguang nodded: "Yes, I came by myself! But I asked about it a long time ago, and the new school will take care of food and housing."
"Then you are quite brave," Li Yu recalled the map in his mind.
"Coming from Huanggang, the distance is not close." Although Li Yu has never been to Huanggang, he really did a lot of Huanggang test papers when he was in school, so he couldn't help but be familiar with it.
But Li Siguang said confidently: "What's the point? I've been running around since I was a child. Don't underestimate me. I've never lost my way, let alone lost my way! No matter where I go, I can know the east, west, north and south." .My father said that I know the road better than the old horses in the village!" Well, after all, he is a great geologist in the future. Although he is only a fourteen-year-old child, it seems that dozens of kilometers are really not a problem.
Li Yu asked again: "What was your original name? Why did you change your name to Li Siguang?"
"My real name is Li Zhongkui," Li Siguang said,
"When I wrote my name in the wrong place just now, I thought there could only be one registration form, but I happened to see a plaque in front of it that said 'Light is covered by four signs'. I thought, the four lights represent bright lights on all sides, and the future is promising. ! Then it was changed to the current name Li Siguang. I like this name, and there are so many things I want to do in the future." Although his real name is not Li Siguang, after this unexpected mistake, Li Siguang has continued to use it from now on. This temporary name was changed.
"Oh?" Li Yu became interested and asked again,
"What do you want to do in the future?" Li Siguang said, "I came to the provincial capital on a large foreign ship, and I will also build a large ship in the future!" Li Yu smiled and said, "I believe you can succeed." Of course Li Siguang couldn't see it. Why did Li Yu laugh? He thought he was praising himself: "Brother, just believe me!" Li Yu also laughed. He didn't expect young Li Siguang to be so funny.
Of course, he later studied in Japan, and at first he studied mechanics. Later, when he went to study at the University of Birmingham in England again, he changed his major to geology.
Li Yu asked curiously: "Your father didn't accompany you here, does he not agree with your decision?" Li Siguang shook his head: "My father didn't stop me too much, and later he agreed very much. As for why he didn't come, that's because Our ancestors came from the grassland, and this small road really doesn’t mean anything.” Li Siguang’s ancestors were indeed Mongolian, and they migrated from the grassland to Huanggang, Hubei.
Li Yu asked again: "For so many years, you have been studying in a private school at home?" Li Siguang nodded this time: "My father taught me, so he understood me and let me come to the provincial capital." Li Yu Thumbs up: "Your decisions are all correct." One more thing, Li Siguang's father was also the enlightenment teacher of the later leader Lin of the Northeast Field Army.
The missionary teacher of the Higher Primary School shouted at this time: "All new students, please follow me to go through the admission procedures." Li Siguang said to Li Yu, "I'm leaving." Li Yu said, "Go, see you later." After Li Siguang left, Hua Shifang asked, "Why did you talk so much with this child?" Li Yu looked at his retreating back and said, "This child has a future." Hua Shifang also said, "A fourteen-year-old Children who are 2 years old and have the courage to come to the provincial capital independently do have a future." Li Yu asked again: "Does the school really give money to the children?" Hua Shifang said: "Of course, as long as they pass the exam, there will be money. If If you get into the top five, you can study abroad, and the school will pay for it." The school under Zhang Zhidong is really generous.
Although it may not work in a short time, only if you are willing to spend money on education can you have a future. Li Siguang was indeed a top student at Xilu High School. He was always among the best and received scholarships every time.
Moreover, he has a really strong learning ability. Originally, the primary school education lasted for four years, but in less than two years, Li Siguang got the opportunity to study in Japan.
The two of them looked around the school again. Although the new school seemed completely incomparable with those of later generations, as it was the beginning of the 20th century, they couldn't force too much.
The key is to take care of food, housing, and money, and to be able to study abroad after studying well. This is basically a prosperous road.
But even so, many wealthy households are not willing to let their children attend such schools. After all, vested interests benefit from the imperial examination.
Therefore, almost all the children who went to the new primary schools in the early days were poor children. The boarding system, free food and accommodation, and the system of earning money if they studied well in the primary schools were very attractive to them.
Most of the children of the poor have no favorable impression or sense of belonging to the Qing government, so many of them will choose the path of revolution in the future.
There seems to be a slight causal relationship. Although the original intention of the Qing government in opening new-style primary schools was to make themselves stronger, they certainly could not have imagined that the new-style schools that were blooming everywhere were like digging a grave for the decadent Qing government itself.
Anyway, it's rotten to the root and can't be cured, so just bury it in the soil. After looking at the primary school, Hua Shifang took Li Yu to look at the Lianghu Academy and the Craft School.
It seems that the biggest difference is that the students are around 20 years old, and the content they study is similar, but there are more subjects.
Anyway, it is almost at this level now, and it will take at least a few more years for the situation to change. The next day, Hua Shifang took Li Yu to the laboratory of Hanyang Steel Pharmaceutical Factory.
Xu Jianyin does understand chemistry, and the test tubes inside look decent, but it's a pity that not many people can use them to their full potential.
Suddenly, Li Yu felt like he was back in his chemistry class in middle school. Although Li Yu knew that the aluminum and fertilizer industries were not easy, he still had to let Zhang Zhidong see some small results.
There are several students from the technical school in the laboratory, and they only know how to use test tubes. The principle of making aluminum is relatively simple. Li Yu led these students to do several redox reactions in high school chemistry, and obtained the material for preparing electrolytic aluminum-alumina, which is aluminum oxide.
It was actually a very simple experiment, but these students were dumbfounded when they saw Li Yu's skillful operation. After Li Yu taught them in detail several times, they mastered it.
But this is just a step in the principle, and we can only talk about it later after we have electricity. There is some hope for aluminum production, but as for the synthetic ammonia industry of chemical fertilizers, it is a bit troublesome.
And to be honest, the process of synthesizing ammonia is still a high-level secret in Germany, and other countries did not understand it until World War I.
But no matter how secret it is, Li Yu understands the principle. And the key is to have a catalyst. This is the secret among secrets. Li Yu only vaguely remembers that the key component of the catalyst is iron oxide. Fortunately, knowing it can save a lot of detours.
As for now, we can only let these students know that the saltpeter in their hands still has many uses.
As for more in-depth matters, they are not yet in control, and they do not have the conditions yet. But just like that, these students were overjoyed. They never imagined that saltpeter has so many uses.
Li Yu could only smile bitterly: "Now the most important role of saltpeter is to make explosives." During World War I, almost all the saltpeter was used by the military industry, but even so, it was better to let them understand.
After all, chemical industry is a major core of heavy industry. Even if it cannot be done on a large scale due to conditions, it should at least be made known to them.
These students did not know that they had learned secret techniques that had been studied by the German chemical community for many years.
As for application, Li Yu sighed lightly. No matter what, it's just one more step.
