Whenever Li Chuntao thought about how won weren’t allowed to take civil service exams, she feared that they wouldn’t be able to enroll many female students, especially in this rural area, which was entirely different from her ho, where they were willing to send girls to learn.
In this countryside, they believed that it was a virtue for won to be unskilled, and as long as they could do household chores and be good wives and mothers, that was enough.
Actually, she felt that it was good for won to learn a few things, at least so literacy and needlework. Thinking of this, Li Chuntao said, "Xiaoxiao, how about while teaching the girls to read, I also teach them so needlework? A woman skilled in needlework will have a better chance of finding a good family to marry into when she grows up. At the very least, we could train more people, and maybe your workshop could use them."
Upon hearing this, Xiaoxiao’s eyes lit up. Just recently she thought Li Chuntao was inflexible, yet now she seed more adaptable. Isn’t this essentially a technical school?
"That’s a great idea. Let’s study it thoroughly when we get back."
Xiaoxiao felt it necessary to make detailed plans with Li Chuntao about this matter. Previously, they had discussed everything broadly; now they needed to plan in detail. Not only that, but they also had to bring those three teachers in to plan together. They needed to know who was teaching what.
Overall developnt in moral, intellectual, physical, aesthetic, and labor education shouldn’t just be talk. We must ensure the children don’t just learn to read; they should also know how to sing, dance, and be cheerful and lively, and have courage and social skills. People would feel proud to say that such students originated from their school, right?
If the plan is ticulous, then we can’t admit just any student. It needs to be standardized.
Soon, the carriage arrived at the town’s furniture store. Xiaoxiao found the shopkeeper, explained the situation, and the shopkeeper imdiately decided that the items Xiaoxiao needed weren’t difficult to make.
The tables and benches they needed were just ordinary long tables and benches, not needing much finesse. So leftover materials could be used to piece them together, and they happened to have leftovers available.
The matter was imdiately decided, and just then, a batch of apprentices had arrived at the furniture store, skilled enough to make such simple things. They estimated that the tables and benches Xiaoxiao ordered could be completed in three days.
After settling this matter, Xiaoxiao also requested the shopkeeper to make wooden blocks, primarily for creating literacy cards. The shopkeeper agreed, but making thousands of identical wooden blocks would take so ti, and at least three sets were needed for the three teachers.
Since they were acquaintances and the tables and benches weren’t intricate, using leftover materials from other furniture, a set only cost eighty coins. However, the literacy cards, totaling over ten thousand, needed to be more refined, and ultimately, the cost ca to eight taels of silver.
Of course, Xiaoxiao also provided a modern ho desk design for free, making the deal more affordable.
After finalizing this matter, she initially planned to visit the bookstore, but thought it best to discuss it with the three teachers. They would know better what kind of enlightennt teaching happened in schools. So she hurried back in the carriage.
Upon returning, she encountered her fifth uncle, who efficiently brought the three teachers together, and not only that, he also brought them to her. Then, everyone sat in the room for a thorough discussion, mainly to talk about the teaching content.
The group was taken aback by Xiaoxiao’s proposals, finding them quite bold, especially since Xiaoxiao ntioned involving children in physical exercise and gas. They were skeptical, because such a school was entirely different from the town’s. Could a school like this truly produce students who could pass exams?
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