Chapter 82: The Meaning of Schools

On the way to Highgarden.

"I still think schools only need to be responsible for teaching children how to read and write," Margaery insisted on her point of view while sitting in the carriage.

She was using her hand to lift the carriage curtain, arguing with Arthur about the meaning of the existence of schools.

"No, no, no, you didn't understand what I meant."

Arthur had just explained quality education and vocational education to her, but the Little Rose clearly couldn't quite grasp it.

Although, in the face of a pyramid system ranging from kings to liege lords down to second- or third-tier nobles, commoner education is not, and cannot become, a channel for students to change their class.

But education happens to return to its essence, which is to make people better and allow students to better stimulate their latent talents.

After thinking for a moment, Arthur said:

"Compared to literacy, cultivating some talent that society urgently needs is what schools should do. For example, doctors who save lives and heal the wounded; the commoners haven't had their own doctors for thousands of years, and we can't just let the Septons keep holding the position concurrently, right?"

Except for The North, which believes in the Old Gods and where Maesters will treat commoners, commoners in other regions have no fixed place to seek medical care.

The Maesters in the great castles only serve the nobles, and they view contact with commoners as a shameful thing.

Therefore, the Septons who serve the gods took on the role of doctors, responsible not only for soothing the souls of the commoners but also for healing their bodies.

This is also the reason why the High Sparrow, the leader of the Septons, rose to power so quickly in the later stages of Game of Thrones.

After the war arrived, the Armed Nobles could not fully fulfill their responsibility to protect their subjects, and they became completely disconnected from the commoners.

So the masses turned to support the group of Septons who were more useful to them.

Besides doctors, schools opened in rural villages can also cultivate skilled workers for handicraft workshops.

The winemaking and textile workshops in The Reach, the metal workshops in the Westerlands, and the furniture, jewelry, and daily necessities workshops in the Riverlands all require a large number of workers.

Their training can be carried out entirely during the school stage, and then, upon entering the workshop, they can skip the apprentice stage and become formal workers directly.

It's a bit similar to the vocational education of my past life, but simpler.

As a modern soul, Arthur still has a consciousness regarding education.

Or rather, he is just smarter than the current people of Westeros in this regard.

"Commoners do indeed need to see doctors," Margaery acknowledged this, "The level of the Septons varies, and treating illnesses mostly relies on herbs and Poppy Milk."

The twins rode up and joined the conversation: "Actually, the witch doctors common on the continent of Essos are a good example; their training cost is far lower than that of our Maesters."

"That's right, the cost of treating illnesses is also lower; herbs alone can cure diseases."

Due to the developed foreign trade and exchanges of the Arbor, these two brothers know quite a bit about the regions further east.

The Maesters of Westeros are trained uniformly at the Citadel in Oldtown, and the time cost and financial cost are extremely high.

In Arthur's impression, a Maester takes ten years or so to complete his apprenticeship before going to serve in various castles.

And because of the inconvenient transportation, in order for the Maesters to better assist the nobles, the Maesters are all generalists who know a little bit of everything.

This is very wasteful.

Society needs a division of labor.

"I think Margaery can persuade Duke Mace to train a group of doctors similar to witch doctors in your Reach to treat the commoners. The level doesn't need to be very high; being able to treat simple fevers and diarrhea is enough."

Arthur suggested this.

His own territory is small, and he doesn't have a Maester serving him, so he can't conduct such an experiment.

This kind of doctor, similar to a witch doctor, is more like the barefoot doctors of my past life, knowing a few simple common diseases is enough.

The popularization of doctors of this level would be enough to double the average life expectancy of commoners.

Because most people die from common illnesses and infections after injuries.

The Little Rose nodded, "The two of you are right, I will suggest it to my father."

After thinking for a moment, Margaery added:

"Actually, Mr. Arthur thinks more profoundly. What I am doing now is actually meaningless; apart from letting children know how to write their own names, it has no effect at all. The meaning of the existence of schools is to cultivate talent—talent that can heal, talent that can farm, and talent that can do manual labor."

A trace of seriousness appeared on her beautiful face; it seems she really took this to heart.

Margaery, who had the highest status, fell into deep thought, and the conversation stopped.

The group traveled in silence until they reached Highgarden.

After hearing what his daughter had to say, Duke Mace, who was still sitting behind the huge carved wooden table, expressed it this way:

"I was impulsive this morning. Since Mr. Arthur is an upright and kind noble, then my House Tyrell will certainly do our best to help. It is already late now; tomorrow you can go to the armory and pick whatever you want, the price will even be a bit lower than the market price."

A bit of sincerity appeared on his round face, which actually left Arthur at a loss.

This person doesn't care about his own face at all, and he can take back whatever he says at will.

Among the liege lords and their heirs of the Seven Kingdoms, only Edmure Tully of the Riverlands could compare with him.

Coincidentally, both of them are very soft-hearted.

After resolving Arthur's matter, Margaery decided to voice her own thoughts.

"Under Mr. Arthur's explanation, I feel that the school I run is really of no use."

"It's good that you know. For commoners to go to school, only knowing how to write their own names is useful; everything else is a pure waste," said Duke Mace.

"But I have another idea. We can organize a group of commoners who are familiar with herbs, let Maesters who are familiar with pharmacology and know how to treat illnesses teach them, and cultivate some people similar to witch doctors to treat the commoners."

Margaery said quickly.

Duke Mace opened his eyes wide, "Daughter, how can you still have such an idea? Isn't this causing trouble for the Maesters?"

Arthur spoke up for the Little Rose: "But it brings convenience to your subjects."

"That's right, the commoners are in need of such convenience. Some of Mr. Arthur's ideas are really good, and I have decided to run such a school."

The Lord of the Pufferfish helplessly spread his hands, "Alright, Father supports your idea. We will discuss it in detail at the gathering tonight."

After speaking, he waved his hand, letting Arthur and the others leave.

It was just mealtime, and Arthur was taken to the great hall where they had breakfast to finish dinner with twenty or thirty guests.

The people of the Tyrell family, however, never ate with these guests.

Count Paxter and Count Randyll Tarly did not appear in this hall either; Arthur guessed that perhaps only visiting minor nobles were arranged to be here.

Those of higher status were arranged elsewhere.

After finishing his meal, Arthur, who had wanted to rest, was dragged away by the twins to attend some gathering that evening.

"Come on, the nobles and warriors of the Reach all want to meet you, the champion of the Tourney!"

"That's right, show everyone your handsome and dashing face!"

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(End of this chapter)