Chapter 426 Women's Official School
"Master Hu, Master Lin!" Su Ying came to the provincial capital and unexpectedly met County Magistrate Lin. Both of them looked worried.
"Master Xiao Su!" The two men bowed in return.
"Aying, why did you think of coming to me?" After sitting down, Hu Changshi forced a smile.
"Hey, Lord Hu, Lord Lin, what happened? You two look worried." Su Ying raised her teacup and took a sip.
"Well, what else could it be? Running a school!" Hu Changshi scratched his head.
With his limited ability, he could barely hold the position of county magistrate, but suddenly he was promoted to the position of chief secretary of a provincial capital, in charge of seven or eight counties.
Originally, the Chief Secretary was the assistant to the Governor, and he was not supposed to worry about these things. With the Governor in charge, he was just a decoration.
Unfortunately, the imperial court transferred Governor Lu, and he, who was supposed to be the mascot, had to take on the responsibility.
He was in such a dilemma! He was so busy with government affairs every day that he was exhausted.
Fortunately, he was busy with the road construction last year, otherwise he would not have had time to sleep or eat.
When the order to teach in rural areas came, he also wanted to take on the huge traffic, but all the counties said that they could not continue.
Not many people can afford to go to school, and those who can't afford to go still can't afford to go, so the counties are reluctant to let the students who go to teach in rural areas go.
However, due to insufficient student enrollment, running a school becomes an embarrassing matter.
County Magistrate Lin also came for this matter.
The arrival of students first filled the problem of insufficient staff, but running a school...
"Sir Hu, what about the official school in your prefecture? What's the situation?" Su Ying asked.
"Aren't students going to various counties? The provincial government is still like this!" Hu Changshi was glad that the provincial government was not affected, otherwise he would not be able to do his job.
"Master Hu, I'm here for Rong County to ask for some books and teaching materials. As you know, Rong County is extremely poor and has nothing. It ranks last in Wuzhou.
The students are unable to recruit enough students, and the county school can no longer operate…”
"Aying, it's not just Rong County, it's the same in Tong County!" County Magistrate Lin interrupted Su Ying before she finished speaking.
"Oh! This order is really difficult. Without a teacher, I'm worried! Even with a teacher, I'm still worried!" Hu Changshi's brows were twisted into a "川" shape.
"Sir Hu, as the Chief Secretary and the head of the official school, you have to come up with some rules and regulations for the county school!" Su Ying looked at Chief Secretary Hu.
"Aying, what can I do? Poor people can't afford to go to school, what can I do?" Hu Changshi was so anxious that he almost pulled his beard.
"Sir, let the provincial printing house print classics and teaching materials and distribute them to each county for free." Su Ying said slowly.
"What? Free?" Hu Changshi almost jumped up. How much would that cost? Who would pay for it?
"Master Hu, the state government collected a lot of taxes last year, and it is worth allocating some money to run schools.
Respond to the imperial edict and actively cooperate! Support the counties in vigorously running schools!
With classics and teaching materials, each county can save a lot of money and provide the conditions for the poor children to study..."
"Aying, how can you think of so much?" Hu Changshi sighed.
"Yes! I, Lin, have been in the officialdom for twenty years, but I am not as clear-headed as Aying. The problems that trouble us can be easily resolved." County Magistrate Lin was convinced.
If the state government only allocates funds to print classics and textbooks, many problems will be solved.
As long as you have a book, everything else is not a problem. If you don’t have a pen, you can write on the sand. Charcoal sticks and tree branches can be used as pens, eliminating the need for a pen, paper, and inkstone.
The county school could not accommodate all students, so teachers went to the countryside to run the school. They had two goals: to train talented people through imperial examinations, and to popularize literacy among the poor.
The students who come to teach in rural areas will not waste their knowledge, and the poor people will also benefit. Even if they can only write their own names and recognize simple numbers, it is progress.
Hu Changshi and Lin Xiancheng's thinking was confined to the county school and they had not expanded their horizons. Su Ying's inspiration suddenly enlightened them.
"Good! We will arrange for the printing house to print it right away!" Hu Changshi clapped his hands.
"Sir Hu, please print some more abacus books and new mathematics books!" Su Ying interrupted.
"?" Hu Changshi was puzzled. Are they all learning the teaching methods of Huanggou Village?
"Master Hu, mathematics is very practical. In the future, not many people will take the imperial examinations. If mathematics is learned well, more people can gain a skill.
Mathematics is the foundation of many disciplines and is very useful, so it can be promoted vigorously," Su Ying explained.
"Okay then! Let's print it!" Hu Changshi gritted his teeth.
"Sir Hu, after the county school is established, you can consider emulating the Six Schools and setting up a few specialized schools based on the local conditions in Lingnan. You can even consider setting up an official school for girls!" Su Ying imagined the future.
"Ah?" Hu Changshi's mind buzzed. Yes, official schools are diverse and pluralistic. "But, official schools for women are too, too..."
Hu Changshi thought it was too shocking and suggested that women just study at home.
If I go to the county school and attend classes like men, who will teach me? Mixing men and women together is truly, truly against etiquette.
"Mr. Hu, take it step by step. First, set up the county school, then set up a technical college to benefit more people, and finally set up an official school for girls so that girls can also learn to read and acquire skills." Su Ying said indifferently.
"Aying, this is Lingnan, not Chang'an! There is only one Su Ying in the world!" Hu Changshi did not have the courage to break through the secular world.
"Hu Changshi, since the emperor has appointed me as a seventh-rank inspector, making me the first female official in the Tang Dynasty, it is not ruled out that there will be a second and third female official!
Why can't we establish the first official school for women in Lingnan? My Tang Dynasty is broad-minded, and women with talent can also add glory to the Tang Dynasty! "Su Ying said confidently,
This might not be possible in other dynasties, but this was during the Zhenguan period of the Tang Dynasty.
The Tian Khan had a different mindset from other emperors. He should have allowed the emergence of official schools for women and even encouraged them to flourish.
"Sir, I think what Ah Ying said makes sense!" County Magistrate Lin agreed.
"Aying's colorful silkworm breeding, new textile machines, and even more industries that women are engaged in require not only ingenuity and dexterity, but also inheritance.
If women could read and write, these skills would be improved and passed down better!" said County Magistrate Lin.
"Let me think about it! Let me think about it!" Hu Changshi's head was buzzing. The impact was too great.
"This is not a top priority. Sir Hu, don't worry about it. Let's first start the most important county school."
Su Ying found Hu Changshi's sad face funny.
"Aying, can you compile some teaching materials for girls?" County Magistrate Lin was very interested and kept asking Su Ying.
She left Lingnan in September and will most likely never come back.
When it comes to setting up a government-run school for girls, Su Ying is the best candidate available, and County Magistrate Lin must hurry and get her done.
He saw the profound significance behind the establishment of a Tang Dynasty official school for girls.
"Well, I'll sort it out when I have time." Su Ying didn't expect that County Magistrate Lin was so open-minded and quick-witted.
“The spring silkworms have started to hatch, and we are planning to expand the production of colored silkworms this year.
I will accompany Aying to Baimao Village to inspect and see if there are any areas that need improvement.
"Would you mind passing on some of your experience to the ladies?" County Magistrate Lin asked enthusiastically.
"Okay!" Su Ying agreed readily, since it was on the way anyway.
The two chatted as they left the state capital.
"Oh! Chongzhi, Aying, are you leaving?" Hu Changshi looked puzzled. Why did you abandon him?
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