# Chapter 189: Teacher (1)
When March arrived, proclamations were posted at government offices throughout the country.
- Gap (甲): Those who will handle education at Samin Schools.
- Eul (乙): Those who will manage the buildings and attached farmland of Samin Schools.
Those applying for the Gap category must be yangin-born men and women of outstanding scholarship, upright character, and possessed of talent for teaching.
Regarding scholarship, appointment will be based on examination scores administered by the Ministry of Rites.
Regarding character, those who pass the appointment examination will be preliminarily assessed through interviews, with continued evaluation throughout the subsequent training process.
Regarding talent, selection will occur during the training process for those who have passed the above two stages.
For women, in addition to the above selection criteria, sewing and weaving skills will be verified.
For women, those who have received the title of Filial Wife (孝婦) or Virtuous Woman (烈女) will receive preferential treatment.
* * *
The yangban society of Joseon was stirred up by the proclamation issued by the court. The reason was the following problem:
- Is teaching children at Samin Schools really considered entering government service (出仕)?
"There are those who, bound by the traditional thinking that 'scholarship is something only sadaebu should learn,' showed negative reactions, but there were also quite a few who thought otherwise."
"Teaching children the Thousand Character Text—how is that entering government service! And in a school where anyone can gather as long as they're not slave children!"
"The world is changing. The number of cheonin is gradually decreasing, and we've entered an era where even yangin can enter government service if they only try!"
"How can entering government service be the only right answer! Looking at present-day Joseon, merchants and craftsmen are increasing! Only when properly educated people become merchants and craftsmen can the world stand upright! The Samin School is precisely the place of enlightenment that the ancient sages so desired!"
"Long ago, Mencius said that among the Three Delights of the Gentleman (君子三樂), one is 'obtaining the talented people of the world and teaching them'! Although it may only be teaching the Thousand Character Text, simple arithmetic, and basic morality, who knows but that through this, someone might open their eyes to learning and emerge to take responsibility for the future of this Joseon!"
Thus a war of words broke out, but to state only the conclusion, on the day of the appointment examination, countless yangban gathered at the examination halls created at the offices of each province's provincial governor—formally known as the Provincial Observation and Dismissal Commissioner (都觀察黜陟使).
However, the part Sejong worried about most was the appointment of female teachers.
* * *
Before officially deciding on this matter, the person who spent the most time with Sejong was Hyang.
Late at night, having sent away even the scribes, Sejong and Hyang were exchanging opinions on the topic of 'educating women.'
"In this father's view, Joseon's women should also be permitted to enter government service if necessary. Because Joseon lacks people."
In Sejong's judgment, present-day Joseong was such that spending time distinguishing between men and women was a waste.
It was a natural concern because, leaving aside men and women, only by using even children's hands could the gyeongjang succeed and Joseon stand proudly on its own.
And finally, one more thing.
Creating a gap in the barrier between men and women would work advantageously for the controversy over the status system that would someday surface.
"That is so. However, the problem is that if you immediately reveal that intention, there will be enormous opposition."
At Hyang's point, Sejong let out a long sigh.
"Huu~. That is the problem."
At Sejong's appearance, Hyang also sighed inwardly.
'This is the state of things even though it's early Joseon when women's status was said to be relatively high.'
As Hyang said, until early Joseon, women's social status was quite high. However, this was closer to respecting women's domain in a situation where traditional gender role distinctions were established.
Entering government service meant women intruding into men's domain, so enormous opposition was a clear matter.
As the contemplation continued for a while, Hyang proposed to Sejong.
"It's a bit of an expedient measure, but how about using the Samin School?"
"The Samin School?"
"Your Majesty has already proclaimed the enrollment of girls in the school, and there was no opposition. Therefore, didn't you say to recruit women as teachers to teach the girls?"
"That is true. Since men and women must be distinct, even if they are teacher and student, problems must not be created."
Nodding at Sejong's words, Hyang continued speaking.
"Therefore, we set standards for the women who will become teachers. The moment they become teachers, we make it so they become the glory of their village and family."
"The glory of village and family…."
Sejong's face brightened as he chewed over the words for a moment.
"That's it! If we appoint Filial Wives and Virtuous Women as teachers, it becomes a justifiable cause!"
"That is correct. And thus, we gradually widen the scope."
"Let us do so!"
Looking at the delighted Sejong, Hyang smiled bitterly.
'Filial Wives and Virtuous Women…. In the future, even this will be a controversy that invites criticism.'
However, in this era, this works and is also the best option.
Stimulating the Confucian desire for honor of the sadaebu was the best move.
Thus, the appointment criteria for female teachers at Samin Schools were created.
* * *
While men voluntarily applied for the examination, in the case of women, an unexpected situation occurred. A remarkable scene unfolded where village notables and local officials went around seeking those recognized as Filial Wives or Virtuous Women, begging them to enter government service.
"What would a mere woman know?"
"Hey! Don't be like that, please help a little for our village."
"If all the girls in our village grow up with upright conduct following your example, how wonderful would that be?"
Receiving the title of 'Filial Wife' or 'Virtuous Woman' from the country was already a celebration for the village, but if a teacher who would teach children even emerged, it would raise the village's honor.
Amidst this tumultuous chaos, petitions containing similar content successively came up from local officials.
Although they lack proper education, there are those who are Filial Wives or Virtuous Women. Furthermore, their weaving and sewing skills are excellent, so please allow us to appoint them.
As such petitions came up, Sejong, who had been pondering, reached a conclusion.
"Loyalty, filial piety, and chastity cannot be learned only from books. These are things that must be learned by observing conduct, so even if they are uneducated and ignorant (不學無識), they have sufficient qualification to teach. Especially since those whom young children see and learn from the most are their mothers, why emphasize its importance?"
By Sejong's command, women who, though they had not learned properly, were famous for their chastity and filial piety were recommended as those who would train girls (女兒).
Sejong's decision soon began to circulate among the people.
Many people nodded at Sejong's decision.
"That's right. Only when superiors show proper examples can children learn properly."
"Indeed! Of course."
"But, do we need to separately teach sewing to girls? They can learn at home."
"That's why the sewing on your clothes is in that state."
"…."
Regardless of ban (nobility) or sang (commoners), when the man responsible for the household economy disappeared, the responsibility for the family economy fell to women. The work such women mainly did to take responsibility for their livelihood was day labor in the fields or paid sewing.
Especially, if one was good at weaving or excellent at sewing skills, one could live a little more comfortably than doing day labor in the fields.
Therefore, there were almost no one who raised objections to educating girls in sewing and weaving.
The reason I used the word 'almost' is because quite a number of officials in the Ministry of Rites raised objections.
"Now that we're weaving at factories, is there a need to teach weaving?"
"That is true."
"Let's remove weaving. It's better to teach even one more character in that time."
Thinking the subordinate officials' words were reasonable, the Minister of Rites argued to Sejong that 'weaving' should be removed from the curriculum. When the Minister argued this and Sejong and the ministers were nodding their heads, Hyang raised a counterargument.
"The foundation of the automatic looms used in textile factories is the loom. When problems arise with the quality of cloth or the loom, those who have done weaving are more capable than those who have not in quickly identifying where and what problem has occurred."
"Ah…."
At Hyang's point, Sejong and the ministers nodded their heads.
"There was such a problem."
"Since I've never done weaving…."
At the ministers' words, Hyang grumbled inwardly.
'These fortunate yangban!'
Generally, weaving was known as women's exclusive domain, but men also often participated in the work. Especially for weaving mats like hwamunseok, the ratio of men was very high.
However, most of the ministers filling the present Geunjeongjeon were those who had never worried about making a living for generations. Therefore, they did not properly know this part.
"Of course, as automatic looms continue to develop in the future, it won't matter if one doesn't know how to weave, but now, one must absolutely know."
"I see."
"Our insight was short."
Ultimately, the proposal that came up from the Ministry of Rites came to nothing.
* * *
As April arrived, the examination for appointing teachers began.
Men and women who passed the appointment examination had to come to Hanyang and undergo interviews. During the interview process, examiners carefully examined applicants' tone and conduct, assessing their character.
Because there were many people, a spacious space was needed, and in response, Sejong showed the extraordinary measure of offering Changdeok Palace.
"Your Majesty! To lend the palace—this is utterly improper!"
All the ministers rose up at Sejong's decision, but Sejong did not back down either.
"Who are we selecting now? They are those who will teach the children of this Joseon! Then who are the children they will teach? They are those who will take responsibility for the future Joseon! At the beginning of such an important matter, what is there that we cannot lend the palace for a moment!"
At Sejong's stern words, the ministers could not continue to oppose.
The ministers who thus withdrew gathered at the State Council and put their heads together. The first to speak was Maeng Sa-seong.
"Rather, let us turn this into an opportunity to turn misfortune into blessing."
"Turn misfortune into blessing?"
"While scholarship is an important criterion in selecting teachers now, isn't character also something we cannot miss?"
"That is true but…."
At Maeng Sa-seong's words, the ministers nodded. It was because Sejong had emphasized 'character' when setting the selection criteria.
'The most important thing for a teacher is character! If there is no significant difference in scholarship and talent, prioritize the one with good character!'
Maeng Sa-seong continued speaking.
"However, can one know this thing called character from seeing it once or twice? And, since there are many other tasks now, we cannot deploy large-scale personnel for teacher appointments either."
Kim Jeom, who had been quietly listening to Maeng Sa-seong's words, lightly clapped his hands and took up the conversation.
"That's it! Changdeok Palace already has many court ladies and eunuchs assigned, so they can observe the applicants!"
"That is my point."
Hearing the conversation between Kim Jeom and Maeng Sa-seong, the ministers soon nodded.
"Indeed, it can become an opportunity to turn misfortune into blessing."
In this way, applicants had to stay and eat at Changdeok Palace, undergo a second interview process, and receive training.
The applicants who thus came to stay at Changdeok Palace had to live with number tags with large numbers written on them attached to their chests. The eunuchs and court ladies operating Changdeok Palace carefully observed the applicants' living attitudes while dealing with them. And the reports written by the court ladies and eunuchs went up to the Ministry of Rites and became guidelines for identifying intermediate dropouts.
* * *
It wasn't only the Ministry of Rites that became busy with the Samin School. Hyang's District 51 also became busy.
District 51 became busy because of the textbooks to be used at Samin Schools.
The number of children who would enter Samin Schools nationwide was at least 200,000 to 300,000.
The enrollment standard was boys and girls between ages 5 and 7, but one could enroll up to age 12 if one wished.
Thanks to this, the figure of at least 200,000 to 300,000 emerged.
Printing the textbooks these children would use was impossible with only the Type Foundery (鑄字所). Therefore, this work passed to District 51.
"Why District 51 again?"
Young officials of the court threw such questions at their superiors. They had become wary of District 51, which was growing in size and influence unnoticed as it took on more and more work.
The superiors' answer to the young officials' question was simple.
"Because District 51 is the only place that can handle the paper to print the textbooks."
"There are many merchant guilds that handle paper."
"Their capacity cannot supply it. And the budget required is no joke either."
At the superiors' explanation, the young officials had to close their mouths.
It was because District 51 had hwangji (黃紙, yellow paper).