The village was working to promote education. The children might need to attend school in a nearby town, but when they heard they could go to school for free, the villagers found it hard to believe. Nothing like this had ever happened before.
No matter how benevolent a lord was, none had ever allowed their children to receive a free education. To lords, monopolizing knowledge was the true treasure.
"My lord, we are only farmers. Can our children really attend school?"
In their minds, wealthy people hired private tutors for their children. Schools were generally the Royal Academy or prestigious academies in various regions.
They had scarcely heard of elementary schools meant to spread education among the public.
"Of course. This is an order from His Lordship. Schools across the country are already being planned. Children of the proper age must attend school—it is an order. If your children can learn some knowledge at school, they will not have to scratch out a living from the fields in the future." Those responsible for publicizing it made the benefits of attending school very clear.
The local student enrollment rate would count toward the achievements of local officials, so naturally they worked hard. Achievements meant money. Mel regarded officials as workers like those in any other profession; those who did more work would naturally earn more. This money would be distributed as a year-end bonus.
"Language, mathematics, physics, chemistry, politics, history, geography... Though I would love to promote subjects this way, the fact is that there are nowhere near enough educators. For now, only language and mathematics can be widely introduced. Art and music can only come later as further improvements."
Mel was not in a hurry. Once people mastered language, they would gain the ability to learn. Once they mastered mathematics,