Chapter 32 Knowledge and Ideas! Arkham Academy!
In the square in front of the teaching area, all the new students and teachers stood in line, and Lister, as the principal, went up to give a speech.
"I think most of the people here don't know me yet and are curious about who this guy is. Many people call me Mr. Arkham now, but my name is Lister. However, whether you call me Mr. Arkham or Lister doesn't matter. A name is just a title. What matters is what I can bring you! That's why you're standing here."
"There is no wealth, no fame, no treasure here... but here, everything is available, because here is knowledge!"
"Knowledge? What is it?"
"Knowledge means nothing to some, but to others it is more precious than life. Don't ask me what knowledge is, because your attitude determines its value. I will only tell you that knowledge changes destiny and is the ladder of human progress."
"Next, you will study here, go find your answers, figure out what knowledge is, and when you figure it out, don't forget to tell me."
"Please remember, at Arkham Academy, there are no nobles, no commoners, no slaves, no races. Before knowledge, everyone is equal. Here, no one can deprive you of your right to learn. If anyone does, please tell me, and I will defend your rights."
After the speeches, the entrance exams followed, which consisted of a written test and a physical fitness test.
The written test was simple; according to Lister, it was only a test for kindergarten to third grade. Even so, most of the students were still scratching their heads in frustration.
"Ms. Meryl, you have a very important task ahead of you!" Lister said to the tall female teacher.
"The other teachers will help too, right?" Meryl smiled radiantly, captivating all the male teachers.
"Certainly!"
"Don't worry, Ms. Meryl!"
The college teachers were divided into different groups based on their level of knowledge and focus. Six people were responsible for the most basic reading and writing education, with Meryl as the group leader.
Meryl, introduced by Kro, comes from the Kingdom of Goa and has extensive experience in tutoring noble children. However, women like her always attract trouble and are ostracized by a noblewoman, forcing her to leave the Kingdom of Goa.
Like Meryl, the other teachers and scholars were not doing well in life, otherwise they would not have accepted the invitation from the Arkham Merchant Guild to come to this remote and dangerous island!
The physical fitness test is much better than the written test. People in this world are generally more physically fit than those in the other world. With a little training, they can easily break world records in the other world, such as sprinting, long-distance running, weightlifting, and other individual events.
After the entrance exam, Lister held a meeting with the teachers and staff, introduced them to John Sr. and Budd Sr., and appointed Budd Sr. as the head of logistics and John Sr. as the dean of academic affairs, mainly responsible for teaching physical skills.
As for dividing students into classes based on their grades and adjusting teaching plans accordingly, these preparations had already been made, so Lister didn't need to worry about them.
But everything is difficult at the beginning.
Lister became very busy, coordinating relationships between various departments, formulating relevant regulations, identifying and addressing shortcomings, supplementing school rules, and resolving newly discovered problems. He was also feeling his way forward, and it wasn't until the end of October that the college's work in all aspects was finally on track.
In the principal's office, Lister frowned as he flipped through the academy's textbooks. The books currently used by the academy came from the Goa Kingdom, and their content was geared towards the nobility, glorifying the Celestial Dragons, the World Government, and aristocratic rule.
"Meryl, convene a meeting of all the teachers involved."
Meryl, who was also working part-time as a secretary, was not surprised by this. Since the start of the semester, Lister had to hold a meeting whenever he discovered a problem. Now, everyone felt something was missing if they didn't have a meeting every day.
Soon, all the teachers sat down at the conference table in the office.
"We need a new textbook. A textbook for the aristocracy is not suitable for college students, most of whom come from ordinary families. So, I hope everyone can work together to compile a textbook that starts with reading, writing and literacy."
The teachers remained silent, knowing that rebuttal would be futile. Lister was the ultimate ruler there, and everyone did whatever he said.
"If we're going to write textbooks, we'll need to reprint them, right?" Meryl said.
"You don't need to worry about those things, I will take care of them. You just need to compile the teaching materials. Of course, I will also participate. The only requirement is that it must be easy to understand and close to reality."
"Yes!"
After the meeting, Lister contacted Kro using a Den Den Mushi (a type of electric telephone).
"I need a printing company!"
"President, we have already invested a large sum of money on Bird Island, and it will be difficult to see a return in the short term!" Kro said.
Kro had always been critical of Lister's emphasis on the construction of the academy. Not only him, but also the teachers and staff inside the academy found it unbelievable. After all, in the East Sea, even the nobles did not value knowledge and education as much as Lister.
"Kro, do you know what the most powerful force in the world is?" Lister asked.
Kro remained silent.
"Physical skills? Swordsmanship? Weapons? Devil Fruits? None of these. Thought, thought is the most powerful and awe-inspiring force in the world. Life will die, including you and me, but thought will not. Where does thought come from? Knowledge! This is a batch of seeds. Sow them, and even if there is only one, if it grows strong, it will be a surprise."
"Okay, you're the boss, I'll make the connections, but printing presses and newspapers usually have government personnel involved…"
With his intelligence, Kro naturally understood what it meant when Lister said he wanted a printing company, rather than just finding someone to print it.
Anything to be printed is definitely prohibited!
"Get two printing presses, find a few printing workers, and if there's someone to supervise on land, then get them on a ship.
In short, this is a worthwhile business.
Once we've mastered the technology, we can try publishing our own chamber of commerce's newspaper."
Lister stroked his chin. In this era of slow and scarce information dissemination, newspapers control the direction of public opinion.
Creating an internal newspaper for the chamber of commerce can effectively control internal thoughts and unite fighting forces.
A good idea. As long as it is not sold to the outside world, it should not attract the attention of the World Government.
Newspapers can wait; compiling textbooks is the top priority.
"The Six Styles are superhuman techniques for controlling and utilizing the body.
They require hellish training and a sufficiently strong physique to master. First, iron blocks and paper drawing..."
Old John walked back and forth in the wide, flagstone-paved arena, recounting everything.
Given the quality of this group of trainees, they were naturally not yet at the level to learn the Six Styles, but Kuina was an exception.
When she arrived on the island, Old John specially trained her.
Kuina's physique, honed from sword training since childhood, far surpassed that of her peers.
Even Zoro, with his monstrous strength, suffered a complete defeat against her, demonstrating her prowess.
Coupled with the influence of the dojo, her foundation, both in practical combat and theory, was extremely solid, and she quickly reached the standard for learning the Six Powers.
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