Chapter 191: Teacher (3)
Meanwhile, endless controversy was erupting regarding the Samin School.
Just as the controversy over the qualification criteria for children entering the school was settled by Sejong, a dispute broke out over another issue.
The problem arose precisely from the title 'Teacher (敎師).'
"The title of teacher, and particularly the character 'Sa (師),' should not be used lightly. Why does the saying 'The ruler, teacher, and father are one body' exist? It means that the grace of a teacher is that great, and their existence is that exalted! Why is their existence exalted? It is because their learning is outstanding, and thus they teach precious children! So how can we attach the lofty character 'Sa' to those who teach children whose very roots cannot be properly known, and even girls at that!"
As memorials containing such content came up, the ministers, incensed, pleaded desperately to Sejong.
"Please punish those who submit such outrageous writings at once!"
The reason the ministers were so infuriated was that their own grandsons or great-grandsons would be entering the newly established Samin School.
With the purge of Ryu Jeong-hyeon's faction, who were extreme conservatives, and the progression of the Gyeongjang reforms, the ministers' consciousness had changed significantly as they faced the reality of Joseon and its future tasks. For this reason, when Sejong spoke of establishing the Samin School, they did not oppose it. Furthermore, fitting the term 'Samin (Four Peoples),' they had taken the lead in advocating that their own grandsons and great-grandsons should also enter.
Yet even they could not tolerate being included among those who 'knew no roots.'
At the ministers' backlash, Sejong sighed.
"Huu~. How long has it been since we last saw blood, and now you want to see blood again? Am I some blood-starved monster?"
At Sejong's words, the ministers immediately bowed their heads to the ground.
"Please forgive our disloyalty!"
"Our thinking was short!"
"It is fine. You had reason to speak as you did."
"Your grace is boundless!"
Having dismissed the ministers' mistake, Sejong looked at the memorials with an expression of disappointment and continued speaking.
"These men do not harbor treacherous hearts; they are simply foolish. They squeeze all standards of life into a small frame and cannot escape it—pitiful men. Hmm..."
Sejong stopped speaking, pondered for a moment, then continued.
"Such men dislike suffering even the tiniest loss. Listen, all of you. Make it law that the entrance requirements for the Jung Hakwon and Gun Hakdang, which will be established following the Samin School, be limited to those who have completed the Samin School, and document this clearly."
"We shall uphold your command!"
"Additionally, codify into law that the children of the royal family must also begin their education at the Samin School."
"Pardon? Your Majesty... that is..."
When the subjects showed troubled expressions, Sejong spoke firmly.
"The royal family and the people are like fish and water. Just as fish cannot live without water, the royal family cannot exist without the people! Only by observing how the people live from childhood and understanding their hardships can one be respected as a member of the royal family!"
Though Sejong's words were unconventional, they were reasonable, so the ministers had no choice but to accept them.
"We shall uphold your command!"
Thus, what had previously circulated as mere hearsay—'they say this will happen'—was now established as definite law and committed to writing.
Sejong's response did not end there. Not long after the memorials were submitted, Sejong's reply was posted on bulletin boards at government offices throughout the nation.
"There are many who oppose calling those who will instruct children at the Samin School 'teachers.' However, this is merely the words of those with shallow thinking, like a frog in a well.
These people ask how we can attach the lofty character 'Sa' to those who merely teach basic learning to children, but these very people are the ones who deserve the character 'Sa.'
As has been said many times before, the Samin School is not merely a place that teaches academics. It is a place that teaches children proper conduct and mindset, teaches them how to live properly, and those who carry out this work. Therefore, where else would one find people more deserving of the character 'Sa' than them?
Sejong's reply was a direct criticism of the Sadaebu who clung obsessively to the word 'teacher.'
At such criticism, the Sadaebu had no choice but to fall silent.
After the suppression of the Giyu Rebellion the previous year, Sejong's royal authority had reached its peak.
Of course, just as the sayings go—'even the moon wanes when full,' or 'power does not last ten years,' or 'no flower stays red for ten days'—there would come a time when that power would diminish, but given the current situation, no one could tell when that would be.
This was because, with the exception of an extremely conservative minority of Sadaebu, most of the people supported Sejong at almost a 'religious level.'
In the end, the conservative Sadaebu were reduced to venting their anger only in places where they gathered among themselves.
"Truly! In this land of Joseon these days, one cannot find the teachings of the sages!"
"Indeed!"
"These are degenerate times! Degenerate times!"
Other Sadaebu and ordinary people who witnessed the reactions of these reactionary Sadaebu scoffed.
"Hmph! So what will you do? Start another rebellion?"
"If you were so dissatisfied, you should have joined when things erupted last year! Win or lose! You just watched like dead mice when it mattered... Tch! Don't go around calling yourselves Sadaebu elsewhere! You're completely disgracing the Sadaebu!"
The reason the reactionary Sadaebu were criticized was simple. It was because they were not genuinely opposing on grounds of Confucian principles.
They were being criticized because they simply wanted to return to the state of affairs before Sejong's reforms.
Not long after Sejong's reply was posted, the court's official proclamation was affixed to the bulletin boards.
-In line with the changes in the court being newly reorganized, the method of appointing officials will also change. This will be announced separately at a later date.
-Only those who have completed the Samin School curriculum and subsequent courses may apply for the newly established appointment examination.
Simply put, this meant blocking the path to officialdom for those who did not attend the Samin School. This was effectively saying that the political entry of reactionary Sadaebu would be blocked.
"How is this any different from the tyranny of King Zhou!"
The reactionary Sadaebu erupted in anger once more, but that was the end of it.
Meanwhile, Hyang, who had either observed the court's meetings or heard of public reactions through the eunuchs, shook his head slowly.
"Progress requires conservatism as well. But these are not conservatives—they are reactionaries."
Thus, Sejong resolved the problems regarding the Samin School and teachers.
"They will criticize me as extreme, as dictatorial, but I hope you understand that this matter could only be handled this way. Especially to the Daesaheon and Daesagan, I earnestly ask this."
At Sejong's words, the ministers answered in unison.
"Not at all. It was the proper decision!"
The Daesaheon and Daesagan, who were named at the end, clearly expressed their support for Sejong.
"This is the work of enlightening the people. This is precisely what the ancient sages dreamed of even in their dreams. To oppose this would be to go against the will of the sages."
"Their arguments cling only to minor details and fail to grasp the essence, so there is no need for concern."
"Thank you."
Sejong was genuinely grateful for the answers from the Daesaheon and Daesagan. That the Daesaheon and Daesagan supported him meant the censors supported him. It meant that those who were the most troublesome were supporting him.
* * *
While such events were unfolding at court, a debate was also taking place at Changdeok Palace.
Those who had passed the first written exam and second interview were staying at Changdeok Palace, learning the curriculum.
However, because the Samin School's curriculum had not existed before, even the officials of the Ministry of Rites were facing this for the first time.
Therefore, most of the curriculum was being established one by one through discussions between the Ministry of Rites officials and the applicants.
During this process, what received great praise from the applicants was the teaching tools Hyang had created.
Upon seeing the Thousand Character Classic word cards that Hyang had made to educate Jinpyeong and Anpyeong—who had received the title of 'Bonggun' upon entering the Gyeongsul year—the applicants praised them without exception.
"Truly a useful teaching tool! If utilized well, children will be able to learn the Thousand Character Classic more easily."
"Indeed. But who made these teaching tools?"
At the applicant's question, the Ministry of Rites official answered with a proud expression.
"It was His Highness the Crown Prince. He made them when he was eight years old, after receiving his investiture as Crown Prince, to teach his younger brothers, the Grand Princes."
"Gasps!"
At the official's answer, the applicants wore expressions of shock. Seeing the applicants' faces filled with disbelief, the Ministry of Rites official continued with a solemn expression.
"Do not doubt it. There is more than one or two people who have seen this. The rumor that His Highness the Crown Prince's wisdom is not of this world is no rumor but reality."
"Heavens..."
Most of the applicants could not close their gaping mouths. However, a small number of applicants who had relatives working as officials in the court nodded their heads.
This was because they had heard about the genius of Sejong and his sons, and their relatives suffering from overwork due to the work carried out based on that genius.
Having seen such relatives, there were more than a few who had chosen the path of teachers rather than officials.
But even such people felt a sense of foreboding when they saw the teaching tools Hyang had created.
'Surely... teachers won't also suffer from overwork, will they?'
* * *
Through such discussions, methods for educating children became systematized.
With people of various ages and both genders gathered from all over the country to debate, it was natural for conflicts of opinion to arise and heated arguments to break out.
Most of the debates found points of agreement before long, but some required quite a lot of time and mental energy to find that agreement.
One of the points where such fierce debate occurred was 'corporal punishment.'
"Since ancient times, it has been said 'the more precious the child, the more one should not spare the rod.' Since teachers do not simply impart knowledge but discipline children in place of parents, they should not spare the rod!"
"Indeed!"
"That is not correct! I am not saying the rod should never be used, but indiscriminate corporal punishment is worse than not using it at all!"
"Correct! As children grow, they become bigger and stronger, but parents become more feeble with time! Then what happens? Children no longer fear the rod! The worst outcome results!"
"I agree! The more one is beaten, the more accustomed to it one becomes! Once accustomed, one no longer fears the rod! Once one no longer fears the rod, one no longer fears committing wrongs! When that happens, one no longer fears violating the law! The rod should not be raised frequently!"
The applicants were divided into two sides and argued fiercely based on the environments and experiences they had lived through.
In the end, what concluded this situation was Lady Jo, who was among the eldest. Lady Jo, who had come up from Jeolla Province, spoke her thoughts in a calm voice.
"I have lived a bit longer than all of you, so I will say a few words based on that experience. Will you listen?"
"We will listen with respect."
When Lady Jo, the eldest who had received the titles of Filial Daughter and Virtuous Woman, spoke, not only the applicants but even the Ministry of Rites officials fell silent and inclined their ears.
"Having lived somewhat long, I was able to see the process of children in my village growing up to become adults. As someone mentioned earlier, I saw children from households that did not spare the rod. Children from such houses grew up to largely fall into two categories. Either they became troublemakers in the neighborhood who feared no punishment and caused all sorts of trouble, or they became people like cattle and horses, constantly cowed and doing only what they were told without any thought of their own. Do you think such people would be of help to the nation?"
Lady Jo's words were quiet, but weighty.