CHAPTER 432: 0430 GLASS CITY

"I need to get your permission first. Your speech might be recorded on video and then shared among some middle and high schools...," Anna tilted her head slightly, "You know, we are always examples and targets; people are watching us."

Each year at the welcome ceremony of the Saint Harmony Alliance Schools, many people pay close attention, and if there is someone special among the new students, the TV stations will even broadcast the entire welcome ceremony.

Many people regard the Alliance Schools’ welcome ceremony as an educational trend indicator over a period of time, and it can also provide some guidance to high school students who are facing life decisions, as well as to the entire society, promoting a mindset of positive energy.

Such events are basically held every year. In fact, Lynch also watched them back then. They were organized to watch the welcome ceremony of two southern alliance schools in the school’s screening room.

At that time, they were all very excited, and the students’ speeches were also very inspiring, as if as long as you worked hard, you could overcome all difficulties, as if as long as you worked hard, you could achieve something.

Until he and Catherine faced reality.

Now, his words would also become a trend indicator. This felt quite magical, and of course, he had no reason to refuse.

When Anna wanted to say something more, the principal walked over.

In such a setting where everyone was present, Anna showed great restraint and didn’t act too forcefully, even excessively; she tactfully reminded Lynch and then busied herself with other matters.

"Shall we talk?" The principal’s attitude was amiable, though he couldn’t help but be so. Earlier, a Member of Parliament had handed Lynch a business card, so even if he didn’t want to be amiable, he had to be.

Lynch nodded slightly, and the two walked aside, "Your speech was excellent; it’s the most powerful speech I’ve ever heard..."

Lynch took out a pack of cigarettes, offered one to the principal, and the two stood in the corner smoking. No one else dared to question or interfere.

"We all know that colored glass looks beautiful, but glass is just glass; it will never become a gem," said Lynch, suggesting something deeper, as he exhaled smoke and flicked off ash.

The principal understood and laughed heartily, "Gems may be good, but they are few, while glass can fill the entire Federation!"

Actually, they were discussing educational issues. Lynch’s speech, aside from resonating with some students, was not actually "rebellious"; on the contrary, it was quite conventional.

The spirit of freedom and the youthful yearning for it have always been the correct ideological coordinates for the Federation people.

Furthermore, today’s welcome ceremony would inevitably be publicized. The principal initially thought that if Lynch didn’t speak well, they would have to edit, cut unwanted frames from the film, and remake it.

After all, young people, especially one who climbed up from the bottom of society, might sometimes wish to stand out, which is quite normal.

But unexpectedly, he spoke so conventionally, in such alignment with societal needs.

The Federation’s educational system is quite interesting. To some extent, it has truly achieved "top-down unification."

From elementary school on, teachers primarily focus students’ attention on interest cultivation, rather than academic study.

Even many well-known educators would step forward to tell the general public that interest is the best teacher for learning.

From this day on, the vast majority of children live quite happily. In the first half of primary school, they mainly played with toys and painted, along with a small amount of core subjects.

Even if students didn’t score well, teachers would encourage them not to be discouraged and could provide examples showing that successful people are not always top talents in professional fields. This is an era full of miracles; as long as there’s a dream, there’s a chance of success.

By the time they reach middle school age, the atmosphere gets a bit tense but only slightly. Now they have some unique courses, like housekeeping or crafts.

Then these students could take their borderline report cards and a hobby they specialized in to receive an invitation to secondary schools.

At this moment, they would realize that interest indeed plays a significant role because often schools inform them that they were accepted not because of their pointless grades but because they have a healthy, lively personality, a zest for life, and a decent hobby.

Listen to this: academic performance doesn’t determine school admission, but a hobby can.

This is also why, in the last couple of years of secondary school, many students delve even more crazily into their "hobbies" and can’t get out, as at this point, they suddenly discover that, compared to the almost impossible resurgence in studying, a hobby seems to be their only ticket to university.

Some universities even offer two admission invitations for some promising high school athletes with sports talents—one for the athlete themselves and another for their intimate girlfriend, if the athlete is truly outstanding.

The same goes for university life; the learning atmosphere is very relaxed, and what to study doesn’t depend on what the school teaches, but what students like...

So does this mean that learning has become unimportant?

Some say yes, but many people clearly know deep down that it’s not true; they just can’t do much about it.

Instead of buying all kinds of expensive materials and books for their kids and hiring tutors who are no cheaper than lawyers and charge by the hour, allowing their children to have a hobby seems a bit more cost-effective.

Moreover, the upper echelons of society seem to fuel this notion, emphasizing that the process is important, not the result.

These people can never see the real scenario here, or they can’t imagine what the kids here have gone through to get here.

Like Anna, or other students here, from the moment they started to accept the Federation’s education system, even before primary school, they began another form of education, an elite education.

Their families would hire various private tutors with numerous titles for them, whether it’s standard cultural courses or their hobbies, they would be exposed to two forms of education.

They could even feel the tutors’ ridicule, sarcasm, and disdain towards public education.

But they wouldn’t speak up themselves, nor would the students who know the truth. At its core, this actually represents a terrifying educational monopoly.

Still, these things couldn’t be publicized, or there would be chaos, so those who know the truth strive to maintain it.

A handful of lucky people, idols, the Federation dream are quietly numbing the entire Federation society, and many who know some of the truth are already powerless.

This is also why, during elections, if a candidate talks about education reform and healthcare reform, they receive enthusiastic responses.

Of course, the healthcare reform here is another matter, different in how it manifests compared to education issues, but essentially the same.

Lynch chose not to expose anything. Everything remained as beautiful as ever.

Colored glass may be cheap, but for most people, it was enough! After the welcome ceremony, Lynch did not leave immediately; he had to stay here for a day before departing.

The student dormitory area at Saint Secheka is almost no worse than the Middle Class neighborhoods in Bupen. The school does not force students to live on campus.

Indeed, each standalone two-story house can accommodate six people. These six live on the second floor, each having twenty-five square meters of space, a large independent glass window opening outwards, four bathrooms up and down, a kitchen, and a study room, with over twenty square meters of a grass-paved yard at the entrance.

This place is lavish enough to not resemble a student dormitory at all, yet it is. The environment here is better than that of 80% of families within the Federation, but among the students living here, 90% are actually very dissatisfied.

This supposedly comfortable environment is actually too shabby.

The world is just as amusing!

"This is the place you’ll stay while at school..." Standing by a house near the exit, Anna showed Lynch the potential dormitory he could be staying in.

"Currently, only three students live in this house; you’re the fourth. I think they’re ready to say hello to you," said Anna as she led Lynch into the room.

Upon entering, he saw two young girls who warmly greeted Lynch. He was a little surprised but found it fairly normal.

When everyone has their own room, whether the person living opposite is a boy or a girl becomes unimportant, especially when they can choose their roommates, it’s not unusual at all.

The girl with some freckles was slightly more lively. Her not-so-short stature coupled with long golden hair and expressive eyes seemed to perfectly match the Federation’s definition of "youth."

It’s unclear when, but girls with golden hair and freckles became increasingly popular.

The other girl, wearing glasses with short brown hair, was quieter, her looks and figure moderately decent.

Lynch curiously glanced around, "You mentioned there are already three people living here, but..."

But currently, there are only two people here, and they are both girls. The other person might also be a girl, and without mutual introduction, if they encounter some accident or misunderstanding could arise.

Keep in mind that in these days, women’s rights activists constantly advocate that women should enjoy equal rights with men, including the right to be naked in private settings.

What if he encountered a roommate like that...?

But obviously, Lynch was overthinking. Anna stepped in front of him, smiling, and extending her hand, "Nice to meet you, Anna, your roommate..."