Black Corporation: Joseon

Chapter 319

The thoughts of most parents with children attending School for Commoners were more or less the same.

‘My child may not be outstanding, but they are not inferior to other children!’

Therefore, when the school year ended and the pass/fail decisions were made, it caused an uproar.

Parents who saw other children advancing to the next level while their own children could not sought out the school’s teachers and caused a commotion.

“What’s wrong with my child?”

“They still haven’t properly learned the Thousand Character Classic.”

“They can learn that in just a few more days!”

“The problem is that the school year has already ended. Unfortunately, I hope they will definitely pass next semester. It’s not that the child lacks aptitude, so they should be able to pass next semester.”

After concluding their meetings with the teachers, the parents rolled up their sleeves in frustration.

That day, the cries of children echoed throughout the villages.

And when School for Commoners reopened in the fall of the Year 1431, a significant number of children had to relearn much of the material.

“Why is this happening?”

Surprised by the regression in the children’s academic achievement, the teachers investigated the reason.

After asking the children, the teachers learned that the cause lay in the busy farming season.

– During the busy farming season, the children were unable to properly review and catch up while working in the fields, leading to a regression in achievement.

This wasn’t just an issue in rural areas. In cities and fishing villages as well, most children had to lend a hand in their families’ livelihoods. And while working like that, it was impossible to properly review and catch up.

The only children who could maintain or even improve their achievements during the break through review and supplementary lessons were the children of well-off independent farmers and the offspring of noble families.

To bring the regressed children’s achievements back up and advance to the next level, the children had to diligently study as busily as during the farming season.

Especially, as mentioned before, with competition heating up among parents, children had to struggle with books and blackboards late into the night. And parents spared no support they could provide.

“What’s the cost of lamp oil when my child is studying!”

However, as the Year 1431 was nearing its end and the Year of the 1432 was approaching, it became clear that a similar situation would repeat, and the teachers of School for Commoners began to petition the Ministry of Education.

***

After hearing the reason from Jo Gye-saeng, Sejong asked with a serious expression.

“So the opinion to extend the class period has emerged?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“And by how much do they propose to extend it?”

“Looking at the class periods so far, school starts five days after Chuseok and lasts until the spring equinox (March 20-21). However, according to the petitions, while starting school five days after Chuseok remains the same, it would be better to set the end of the school term to Haji (June 21-22). If Haji is too long, they argue that it should be extended at least until Ipha (May 5-6).”

After quietly calculating based on Jo Gye-saeng’s words, Sejong asked again.

“They want to extend it by at least a month and a half, and at most three months?”

“That is correct.”

“Will parents whose livelihoods depend on farming readily agree? Even now, there is a shortage of hands, and children who should be learning are being put to work.”

At Sejong’s point, Jo Gye-saeng promptly replied.

“That is true. Therefore, the Ministry of Education plans to set the regular semester until Goku (April 20-21) and instead officially establish the supplementary lesson days proposed by the teachers.”

“Officially establish… Will children be able to easily attend during the busiest times?”

“We plan to schedule the supplementary lesson days on market days.”

At Jo Gye-saeng’s answer, Sejong slapped his knee.

“What an ingenious idea!”

***

One noticeable change in Joseon society after the establishment of the Jeonmaeso (markets), the “star of Reformation Plan,” nationwide was that markets began to be held regularly.

In a way, it was a contradictory situation.

However, upon closer examination, it was a natural change. With the Jeonmaeso ensuring a stable supply of daily necessities like salt and sugar, the people of Joseon no longer needed to buy large quantities at once and store them in their pantries.

Moreover, as the Reformation Plan progressed and households gained more financial leeway, commoners also began to indulge in small luxuries. Those who previously would have been satisfied with wooden bowls and spoons now sought out ceramic pots, earthenware, and brass spoons.

However, the Jeonmaeso did not sell everything. The simplest example was paper. As the government-run paper mills were abolished, the papermaking artisans who were released from government service began producing paper all over the country, and merchants traveled nationwide to sell that paper.

As paper became more readily available, even ordinary commoners started papering their floors. Those who previously would have laid out straw mats began to use paper.

By papering the floors, the living environment became cleaner, and people started paying more attention to hygiene. As a result, the incidence of diseases gradually decreased, which was an added benefit.

The story has veered off-topic, but in this way, as the expectations of ordinary people rose and the habit of hoarding goods disappeared, market days became active nationwide.

As a result, by now, as the Year 1431 was coming to an end, five-day markets had taken root nationwide, and the plan was to utilize these market days for supplementary lessons.

***

Upon hearing the Ministry of Education’s plan as described by Jo Gye-saeng, Sejong immediately authorized its implementation.

“The importance of education in nurturing talent need not be restated! However, the issue of livelihoods tied to constant production cannot be overlooked either! Therefore, set the semester for School for Commoners until Goku, but designate market days as supplementary lesson days to ensure no interruption in learning!”

“We shall obey your command!”

At Sejong’s order, the ministers bowed their heads in unison.

Watching the scene from the side, Hyang muttered to himself.

‘I wonder if this is really a good thing…’

***

When the plan for compulsory education, symbolized by School for Commoners, was first established, Hyang had proposed setting an education period of five or six years.

However, upon hearing this proposal, Sejong and the ministers all reacted negatively.

“Crown Prince, are you suggesting setting the education period to five or six years?”

“Yes. One year would be considered a semester, and in each semester, the necessary courses would be taught before moving on to the next semester.”

“What happens if a student fails to fully grasp the designated courses in that semester?”

“Since a semester is nearly six months long, how many would fail to pass? Even if there are, I believe they should be allowed to pass if they reach a certain level.”

“What if someone excels and achieves faster than others?”

“If they achieve it within half of the semester, they can immediately advance to the next level. If not, they can move on to the next semester together with their peers.”

Based on his experience in the 21st century, Hyang answered Sejong’s questions.

After pondering Hyang’s answers, Sejong shook his head.

“Crown Prince, your proposal is not reasonable. If we allow students to advance to the next level even if they have not properly learned and only reached a certain level, they may fall into complacency. On the other hand, if those with better aptitude and effort achieve much faster than others but must move at the same pace as others, they may lose enthusiasm for learning. Therefore, it is appropriate for the criteria for advancing to the next level to be determined by achievement, not the time spent on studying.”

At Sejong’s words, the ministers all nodded their heads as if it were obvious.

Seeing Sejong and the ministers like that, Hyang withdrew his proposal.

“My thinking was short-sighted.”

Sejong and the ministers’ thoughts were based on tradition.

Until then, when it came to learning, advancing to the next level only occurred when there were results showing that the current material had been fully mastered. That was why the custom of completing a book before moving on emerged in seodang (traditional village schools).

For those accustomed to such traditions, the 21st-century method Hyang described—naturally advancing grades as time passed—was not reasonable.

Even to Hyang, this method of advancing based on results seemed rational at first glance. However, the curriculum in the 21st century was also the result of accumulated experience over more than a hundred years.

Therefore, Hyang lamented, ‘I don’t know which one is right.’

As an aside, this system where advancement and retention were determined by results became a unique tradition of Joseon.

And it gained notoriety worldwide.

Students who were smart and hardworking advanced to higher educational institutions faster than others. As a result, it was common for some to continue their studies at the highest educational institutions in their early to mid-teens. On the other hand, there were also countless individuals who had to study with children several years younger than them at intermediate educational institutions even in their late teens.

Some made extreme choices due to this pressure.

Many foreign media outlets raised this as an issue, but Joseon’s response was always the same.

“Competition is essential to obtain the best talent!”

“Compared to the competition in society, this is child’s play!”

In the end, Joseon had to endure tremendous time and pain before devising an improvement plan for this aspect.

***

While the court in Hanseong was busy moving, the crew members who had completed the isolation period at the Mokpo Naval Base were leaving the base on vacation.

It was a long vacation of fifteen days.

Carrying bundles containing various exotic statues and foreign objects they had personally acquired in Tianzhu—the Bengal Sultanate—the marines headed out of the base in groups of three or five, heading home where their families awaited.

“Honey, I’m home!”

“Makdong, Dad’s here!”

“Oh my, dear!”

“Father!”

Families who hadn’t seen their long-awaited heads of household in a long time had a joyful reunion filled with delight.

As they exchanged greetings and a commotion ensued, neighbors slowly gathered to watch.

As the commotion died down, the crew members untied the bundles they had brought.

“Honey, take a look at this. Dolsoe, come here too.”

“What is it?”

As the crew member sitting on the wooden bench untied the bundle, not only his family but also the neighbors beyond the fence craned their necks in interest.

“This~ is cloth made in Tianzhu.”

“Oh my! How can cloth be so thin! It’s so light and airy!”

The woman who picked up the sari used to make Tianzhun women’s clothing made a fuss.

It wasn’t just the sari. Whenever items full of exotic charm appeared, the crew members’ families let out exclamations of admiration.

After spending a pleasant time with their families and taking a break, the crew members soon gathered with the neighboring men for a drink.

“When I was crossing that vast ocean…”

While boasting about their experiences sailing the open seas, not just Joseon’s coastal waters, and the exotic sights of foreign lands they visited along the way, mixed with tremendous exaggeration, the surrounding men’s eyes all sparkled. Since it was a military village located near the naval base, most of the neighboring men were marines. Therefore, they were also expected to embark on similar voyages soon or had a high probability of doing so, so they listened to the stories with shining eyes.

As drinks were poured with foreign sights as the side dishes, the topic of conversation drifted to foreign women.

“Hey, what were the women in Tianzhu like?”

“Perhaps because it’s a country with strong sunlight, they all have dark skin, but you know… If you look closely, they’re just like cows.”

“Cows?”

“Their eyes are so big! Half of their face is eyes! And they pierce their noses, wearing gold ornaments, and hang gold threads from them! Just like cows! And…”

The crew member, glancing around to gauge the reaction, placed his hands on his chest and shook them.

“They’re as big as cows.”

“Oh my~”

The men let their imaginations run wild as they listened to the description.