Writer 1879: Solitary Journey in France

Chapter 234 Backstab
In late winter in Paris, the sky is leaden gray, and the Seine flows slowly with thin ice, clear and cold.

Inside the gray stone building of the Ministry of Education, a battle concerning French public primary school textbooks has reached its most critical moment.

The Republic's emblem and the relief of "Marianna" hanging on the conference room wall silently watched the men and women below.

Count Louis-Philippe de Rohan, chairman of the editorial committee of the French Reader, sat in the main seat.

Attendees included educator Paul Belter, Elementary School Superintendent Charles de Blanch, poet Eugène Mangal, and several renowned scholars and veteran teachers.
The core of the debate is about what kind of writing can shape an ideal new generation of "French people".

Paul Belte’s voice boomed: “Gentlemen, we must make it clear that the French Reader is by no means a simple literacy textbook!”

It is the first cornerstone shaping the soul of future citizens of the French Republic. Therefore, its selections must be broad, diverse, and profound!
We must let children see all of France through words, and see their compatriots living on this land, experiencing different joys and sorrows!

Eugène Mangal also stood by him: "We need La Fontaine's fables to teach wisdom, and we also need Hugo's poetry to inspire passion."
We also need Daudet's "The Last Lesson" to remind children of the pain of losing their land and to inspire them to cherish the French language.
Similarly, works like "The Old Guard" use small details to reflect larger themes, revealing the twilight of the empire and the rebirth of the republic...

This is the kind of inclusiveness and reflection that the spirit of republic should embody…

At the other end of the long table, Charles de Blanchard, the chief inspector of primary schools, interrupted him with a sneer: "Inclusion? The French Reader prioritizes national identity above all else!"

A clear, unified, and unwavering national identity! For every child, whether they come from the coast of Brittany or a mountain village in the Alps…

When he finished reading the French Reader, he had to realize that he was a citizen of the French Republic!
Instead of saying 'I am a Brittany,' 'I am a Provençal,' or even 'I am a Parisian!'

An education official beside him nodded vigorously: "Exactly! 'The Last Lesson'? It's full of pathos, but lacks fighting spirit!"
It portrays failure and helplessness; what we need is inspiration and striving! As for "The Old Guard"?
Is it really possible to expect clueless students to sympathize with a soldier obsessed with the Napoleonic era? That's too dangerous!

Charles de Blanch concludes without question: "Therefore I maintain that Madame Augustine Fourier's 'Two Children's French Travels' is the best model for the 'French Reader'!"
This novel introduces the geography, products, history, industry, and many other aspects of the homeland through the journey of two orphans across France!
Each chapter promotes diligence, thrift, and patriotism, making it the perfect moral poem to promote the "republican spirit"!

Older students, and even middle school students, only need to read this book, supplemented by some classic poems for practice...

This is the truly efficient and reliable way to educate!

Paul Belte nearly jumped out of his chair: "To reduce French language education to a travelogue? That's a castration of the republican spirit!"

"Two Children's Trip to France" is just a map pieced together for the purpose of moralizing!

Children need to experience a living, breathing France to truly connect with them and build a genuine sense of belonging!

Charles de Blasio retorted: "Living, flesh-and-blood France? You mean showing children the social reality too early?"

It will only confuse them! Make them uneasy! Make them feel lost!
France needs its future builders to be united and optimistic. Learning to be critical and pessimistic at a young age will only lead them astray!

The France depicted in "Two Children's French Trip" is unified, hardworking, and full of hope—these are the cornerstones of a stable nation!

And look at these two children who are the main characters—they come from Lorraine and were orphaned because of the brutality of Prussia.

After reading this book, every French child will feel a burning hatred for the Germans and a firm resolve to reclaim Alsace-Lorraine!

Paul Berthe was desperate. He looked at Count Rohan almost pleadingly: "Your Excellency, we just removed the Bible from the textbooks, are we going to have to adopt a new Bible?"

Count Louis-Philippe de Rohan remained noncommittal, his face partially obscured by the smoke from his cigar.

"Forget it, Lionel..." George Charpentier poured Lionel a glass of wine and advised him.

Lionel sat on the large sofa, holding a copy of "Two Children's French Travels" and flipping through it at his leisure.

George Charpentier added helplessly: "I didn't expect it to be 'Hachette' and 'Behring,' they are too powerful."

"Charpentier's bookshelf" might be enough to handle one, but two...

Hachette and Behring are currently the two largest publishing houses in France, almost monopolizing the French education book market.

Lionel closed the book and handed it back to George Charpentier: "This was all part of a carefully planned performance, wasn't it?"

Georges Charpentier nodded: "Before Jules Ferry became Minister of Education, he had repeatedly articulated his ideal of education in Parliament."

The current head of primary education, Ferdinand Bisson, and the chief inspector of primary schools, Charles de Blanch, are both proponents of the "Ferry Reforms."

Previously, their works were almost entirely published by Hachette or Bering.

Then in 1877, a novel that perfectly aligned with Minister Ferry's entire educational philosophy was published by "Behring"...

This is indeed a performance, rehearsed for three whole years; Count Rohan is probably completely unaware!

Lionel smiled at the dejected George Charpentier: "And what about me? How did I become their target?"

Georges Charpentier was furious: "At the first meeting of the editorial committee, the Count of Rohan said, 'We could consider selecting some works by young people, such as Lionel Sorel.'"

Some of the committee members were already unhappy about "Two Children's Trip to France" being designated as a core textbook for higher grades, so they used you as an argument against students reading only one author and one book.

Just a few days after that meeting, Le Gaul published that reader's letter... And you, who once championed education reform, were considered "one of us"!

Lionel shook his head: "Compared to the income of tens or even hundreds of thousands of francs a year, what is the reputation of a young man like me?"

This profit could last for many years, making a publishing house invincible. Besides, am I really considered one of their 'insiders'?

George Charpentier cried out anxiously, "That can't be, it can't be..."

Lionel shook his head: "George, don't dwell on this. Count Roon is no longer a reliable figure."

If I'm not mistaken, he, who only took office last year, is most likely an outsider to this big deal, otherwise he wouldn't have been in such a passive position before.

After three years of planning, it was already destined that "Two Children's French Trip" would become synonymous with "French Reader".

What you need to consider is how to become part of this deal as well…

George Charpentier was stunned: "Become part of it? Is...is that even possible?"

Lionel laughed, a laugh that sent chills down Charpentier's spine.

(End of this chapter)