Qing Yao

Chapter 80 Upholding the Principle of Education for All
The meaning of "borrowing to read" is exactly what it sounds like.

"The students below can study at the prefectural school, but they will not occupy the prefectural school's quota for the preliminary examinations. They must return to their place of origin to take the preliminary examinations. In this way, the students below can have better teachers and a better learning environment, and there will be no dissatisfaction in the local areas."

Zhao An's earnest demeanor suggested that he genuinely wanted to improve the educational standards of Yangzhou Prefecture, rather than trying to make a quick buck through student transfers.

However, this practice does have a side effect: it significantly improves the academic performance of "borrowing students".

After all, it's a key high school under the government's jurisdiction.

Whether it's the environment or the quality of the teachers, the key schools under the government are in a class of their own.

Moreover, the principal is personally appointed by the director of the prefectural education bureau.

Therefore, the introduction of the policy of allowing students to study outside the prefecture can also be understood as a bold attempt by Professor Zhao An to improve the overall education level of the prefecture.

Both from a public and private perspective, it is justifiable.

"Sir, is this appropriate?"

Ma Xuezheng is a typical technocrat who lacks the courage to innovate and always does what he is told to do. Therefore, he still has doubts about the new concept of "borrowing a place to study".

"What's inappropriate about it? Anything not prohibited by law is permissible. Besides, this is a good thing that benefits the students of our prefecture. Don't you all want our prefecture to produce more talented people and surpass those famous prefectures in Jiangnan in the field of imperial examinations?"

Zhao An, who was good at ideological work, did not want to run a one-man show, so he had to elevate the "borrowing a place to study" issue to a new level.

That means we must strive to be the best in the entire province!
Although Yangzhou is an international metropolis, it still lags behind Suzhou, Songjiang, Changzhou and other prefectures in Jiangnan in terms of the imperial examination system. The reason is simple: the literary atmosphere in Jiangnan is just too damn strong.

In the last provincial examination, more than 30,000 students from Jiangsu Province participated, and 69 people were finally admitted as successful candidates. Of these 69 people, 47 were from the Jiangnan region, while only 22 were from the three prefectures of Yangzhou, Huai'an, and Xuzhou in Jiangbei.

The ratio of north to south is two to one.

Because of their outstanding achievements, instructors in prefectures and counties south of the Yangtze River were promoted faster than those north of the river. For example, Professor Chang from Suzhou in the 46th year of the Qianlong Emperor's reign has now been promoted to prefect.

They're all from the same province, and they use the same textbooks, so why is Yangzhou considered inferior to other places in Jiangnan?
Problems should be addressed, rather than knowingly falling behind others and stubbornly assuming that the only issues are the cultural environment and student quality.

In any case, regardless of what others at the academy think, Professor Zhao is determined not to admit defeat.

"Borrowing a place to study" is the solution to this problem.

By "borrowing" students, all the outstanding students in the prefecture can be gathered together under the guidance of renowned teachers to bravely climb new peaks in their studies and strive to secure second place or even first place!

When the results are in, Principal Zhao is proud, but Vice Principal Jiang is not?

Ma Xuezheng realized that he was no match for Professor Zhao, and was still hesitating about whether the matter was feasible.

Major decisions must be approved by the leadership!

Zhao An made the final decision: "That's how it'll be done. After the prefectural examination, you should spread the word that the prefectural school can accept two hundred outstanding students for temporary study at a time."

"This"

Since the principal has made the decision, the vice-principal cannot object. The academy occupies the largest area in the entire prefecture, and many of its buildings are vacant. It can accommodate not only two hundred more students, but also three or four hundred.

The hardware is definitely not a problem; it's just that the teachers might be a bit overworked. We can always hire some more scholars.

Having figured this out, Ma Xuezheng asked another crucial question: how to collect the "borrowing fee" that the professor mentioned.

"The practice of allowing students to study in a different school is a major event to improve the academic level of our prefecture and a good thing for the benefit of our students. We cannot adopt a one-size-fits-all approach; we must treat each case differently."

Based on the principle of taking care of outstanding students from poor families, Zhao An first proposed that if top students with excellent academic performance from prefectures and counties came to study at the prefectural school, they could be charged only a symbolic fee of ten or twenty taels of silver.

"If the student's family is not well-off, the school may reduce or exempt tuition fees or admit the student directly without charge. If the student is truly outstanding, the school may even provide subsidies."

Principal Zhao is clear-headed on important matters. While he may be pursuing financial gain, he still needs to provide some support for promising students, even if these students become his enemies if they later become officials.

But that's for the future.

Now that he is the professor in charge of education in Yangzhou, he will take care of the outstanding students from his hometown whenever possible.

Everyone has a sense of belonging to their hometown.

After listening, Ma Xuezheng nodded. This approach would reduce external criticism and would indeed be a great boon for outstanding students in the surrounding counties.

As long as one returns to their place of origin to take the imperial examination, the officials there will not object.

It truly is a win-win situation.

Zhao An then proposed that students with above-average grades should come to the prefectural school to study, and each student would be charged a tuition fee of fifty taels.

"What if these students come from poor families?"

"If they don't like it, they can stay and study there. Do you think I'm forcing them to study at the prefectural school?"

Zhao An's meaning is simple: your grades are above average, which is not outstanding, and it will be difficult for you to pass the third examination for the imperial examination. Now, he is giving you an opportunity to improve your grades at the prefectural school. Is fifty taels expensive?
If a family can afford to spend fifty taels to study at the prefectural school, how could they be poor?

He would never come if he were truly poor, especially since the prefectural school had preferential policies for outstanding students from impoverished backgrounds.

To put it simply, it's a screening process.

Everything is based on voluntariness, and the prerequisite for voluntariness is the economy.

Ma Xuezheng had no objection.

Zhao An proposed the final admission criteria.

"As long as the student's registration is in Yangzhou Prefecture, whether it is in the prefectural school, the community school, or a private school with a tutor at home, even if they have never been to school, as long as they are willing to study at the prefectural school, each person will be charged a tuition fee of five hundred taels."

This is where Zhao An is trying to make money.

He had calculated that his professorship would last a maximum of five years, and if fifty rich and foolish people came to study there each year, that would amount to 25,000 taels of silver annually.

Including those from the middle to upper classes, they would have earned at least tens of thousands of taels over five years.

After deducting salary increases and various benefits for faculty and staff, plus bribes to officials, it's conservatively estimated that half of it would end up in their pockets.

This prediction wasn't because Zhao An was overly optimistic and hadn't researched the "market," but because he genuinely believed he could acquire that many units.

Five hundred taels was by no means expensive for the mischievous sons of salt merchants, local tyrants, and corrupt gentry.

Just saying "My child studies at Fuxue School" is a big deal!
Rich people, aren't they just concerned with saving face?

Yangzhou has plenty of wealthy people.

There are several people whose wealth rivals that of a nation!

You care about appearances, and Principal Zhao cares about money, so that settles the matter.

Ma Xuezheng immediately sensed the problem with this admission method and, after much deliberation, reminded the professor, "If we admit students this way, the academic performance of the students at the prefectural school will likely become very uneven."

"Teaching and nurturing people should focus on education for all. As long as students are willing to study, we, as educators, should impart our knowledge and teachings without reservation, so that they can strive to improve themselves. How can we look at students with prejudice?"

After pointing out that Ma Xuezheng had a serious misunderstanding of the essence of education, Principal Zhao added meaningfully, "I will not keep all the surplus from the tuition fees collected each year after deducting various expenses."

(End of this chapter)