"Mm, I very much agree with your idea, but I don't quite understand what you mean by a 'learning atmosphere.'" Roy gestured toward the reception area. Schiller led Jason over to the sofa beside it and sat down.
"Sorry, Professor, I come from the Mafia too, so I never had much schooling. What exactly do you mean by a learning atmosphere?" Roy picked up the teapot and poured Schiller some tea.
"It's all right." Sitting on the sofa, Schiller said, "I can explain it slowly. After all, when I wanted to reform Gotham's transportation system, not a single mayor had been willing to sit on this sofa and listen to me."
Roy felt cold sweat break out down his back. He smiled and said, "Take your time. I'll listen carefully."
"A school is a place for learning. Note that this isn't a request or an emphasis; it's simply a statement of fact. Schools are meant for learning. I shouldn't have to spend extra effort maintaining that function. That should be something everyone recognizes, shouldn't it?"
Roy nodded. He did agree with that. Even in Gotham, most people knew that schools were places to study. If you didn't want to study, why go to school?
"But learning doesn't work simply because there's a school. A quiet school alone doesn't give students a good learning environment, and responsible teachers alone don't guarantee good grades."
Roy paused. "Isn't that how it works? As long as teachers teach properly and students study properly, shouldn't they get good grades?"
Schiller shook his head, but he wasn't angry. In Gotham, most people believed that if you truly wanted to learn, you went to school, studied hard there, and got good grades.
He patiently explained, "Many parents think that once they throw their children into school, the