[Masterpiece Les Miserables] Paris Sparks

"I think there should be regular assessments in the middle of the course," said Combeferre. "For example, if you say that they have had six lessons, then they should have almost learned twenty-six letters—or perhaps It's over. After learning the alphabet, they can take a test, and the students who pass the test can get a certain reward. The reward amount is calculated according to the time spent on learning, and maybe a little more, if the sponsor is willing. With With this subsidy, they can work less hard, and can also encourage them to devote more energy to their studies."

"This will also stop those who come here just for money, because if they don't study hard, they won't get the money for passing the exam." Corona's eyes lit up, "Good idea——I will tell them Yes. However, when it comes to assessment, there is another problem here."

"I can imagine the problems of starting a project for the education of working women from the ground up," said Combeferre with a sympathetic smile. "I wish I could be of help!"

"I think so too, that's why I'm here to discuss this matter with you." Corona shrugged, "Anne said that they have almost finished learning the alphabet, and the lady is thinking of printing a booklet to teach them words And grammar. But after that stage... none of them know what else to teach when they've learned to read and write."

"After learning how to read and write, what else can I teach?" Re'an asked suspiciously, "There is so much knowledge to learn in this world."

"True, but the whole point of the whole thing is to make life a little bit better for the women workers, isn't it? I guess teaching them philosophy and history and literature probably won't help," Corona said. I'm not saying that knowledge is useless - but I'm afraid it won't immediately help women workers who work more than ten hours a day. Maybe they can learn something that will help them find a better-paying job...but they don't They don’t know how to live a better life. They are willing to learn, but they don’t know what to learn. The lady who taught them was born in a wealthy family, so of course she doesn’t know.” She smiled wryly, “I thought It’s been a long time, and I don’t know. What should I learn, so that they can find better jobs? Too many jobs in society are only for men, and they are completely closed to women. The slightly better jobs I can think of are no more than It means being able to read and understand some social etiquette, and then going to be a maid in the upper class—but, compared to a maid, can it be said that it is a better job?"

Several people fell into a thoughtful silence. "That's a real problem," said Combeferre a moment later, with a wry smile. "If you asked me about the education of male workers, I could give many examples at once. Scribes, clerks... But women workers ..." He shook his head.

"If even you can't think of it," Corona said, "then I don't think I can give them a good answer."

But she didn't look disappointed. On the contrary, she talked about the whole thing with enthusiasm and enthusiasm, "But it's okay! It took me several months to learn the letters and words, and then I had to learn grammar, syntax, Learning how to read long sentences, they seem to plan to learn a little bit of legal basis, and some common sense of medicine and science—maybe by then, we can find a way.”

"Us?" Grantaire asked. "As far as we know, you don't need to take a literacy class. Are you going to be their other teacher? Ha, watch out, guys! Among our group of students But there is a teacher!"

Only then did Corona realize that she had slipped her tongue. "Of course it's 'we'. Anne and I are very good friends. Besides, how can I leave such a meaningful matter alone? Besides," she looked at Combeferre with a smile, "if the You guys, can you just ignore it?"

"I can." Grantaire said, holding up his hand.

"I didn't ask you." Corona said, knocking his hand off with an empty wine bottle.

"Of course not," said Combeferre.

"And it looks like you'd love to do it," Jehan added with a coy smile.

"Of course." Corona admitted bluntly.

That's right, everything she encountered couldn't make her flinch -- on the contrary, she was very happy.At last the anger which had been present in her heart since seeing Fantine and Cosette was no longer suppressed and had nowhere to go, and now this fierce emotion became a driving force, which could keep her going. , can make her feel that she finally has the ability to do something to change everything.

No matter how small the change is.

The word learning in the first class is progressing smoothly, and Corona has already planned to start teaching them grammar and syntax—that means she will start writing textbooks for them to learn sentences.Straight-forward appropriation of elementary school textbooks is fine, but what workers hope for is to learn content that is more commonly used on the job and that will better help them deal with foremen, factory managers, and the police.So Corona borrowed Cosette's elementary school textbook, asked Combeferre and the group of friends to borrow other versions of literacy textbooks, and asked Jean Valjean to help write several notices and contracts that are common in factories. Paperwork, do it yourself.

Needless to say, this is also a big project.Sometimes she writes late at night alone, and walks to the window to look at Paris at night, looking at the countless stars in the dark night sky, and thinks of the conversation she had with her father a few years ago.

"What is your ideal?" Caton asked her.

——Now I know that my ideal is freedom.My own, the liberty of all women, and all peoples.I would like to go in this direction, although I don't know where it is.

Will you be happy for me, father?

She has no answer.She asked herself this way many times, and she always knew vaguely in her heart: Carton might not be happy.

After all, she still took the path he didn't want her to take.

"Someone wants a copy of our book," Anne told her displeased. "A man working."

"Male worker?" Coronna, who had just jumped out of the carriage, asked back in surprise.Her literacy class has already gained a certain reputation among female workers, and there are 80 to [-] students—but it is the first time that male workers have come to her. "Then did you give it to him?"

"You decide which book you print." Annie said, "here, he's over there." She pouted and pointed to the school gate, where a dim figure stood against the wall.

... male workers?

Corona turned up the collar of her thin cloak and lowered the brim of her hat. Anne gave her a strange look, but she didn't ask any questions, and just walked over with her.When he got closer, he saw that it was indeed a young worker who was not too tall, with dark curly hair, wrapped in an old overcoat, the cuffs and elbows had been patched, and the patches had been polished.It was not a face that had appeared in Collins before, which made her secretly relieved. "Good night, sir. I am Corona Evermond," said Corona, offering her hand to him.

"Fuilly....Uh, Ye An, Miss?" The other party replied, shook hands with her a little awkwardly, and quickly withdrew her hand, "I have read the textbook you wrote... I want to ask Ask, would you like to sell me a copy?"

"It's just a few materials I use for myself. It's not a textbook, let alone whether it's sold or not." Corona replied politely and distantly.

Feuilly fidgeted with the corner of his clothes uneasily, obviously aware of her indifference.Normally, Corona would not speak in such a tone to the workers—these social expressions, which made her uncomfortable, were only reserved for the nobles.But right now, since she is dealing with him as a rich lady, it would be safer to keep the distance a little farther away.Seeing that Feuilly looked away uncomfortably and stared at the ground, she continued: "Do you want this textbook for yourself?"

"Yes." Feuilly said, and suddenly raised his eyes again—Corona lowered her head slightly, letting the shadow of the brim of her hat cover her face, "Since you refuse to sell, if you need to print other textbooks in the future , or something else—I can help you contact the printing factory in exchange. The worker who lives with me is also learning to read, and he works in the printing factory."

"I beg your pardon, I don't mean to refuse, but if you are still learning to read, I'm afraid these materials are not suitable for you. Perhaps Anne told you that we have already learned the alphabet and learned many words before we can use them. In addition, if it is pure self-study, I am afraid that the above explanation is not sufficient, because when I prepare it, I am preparing to cooperate with my own explanation.”

This reminded her: Maybe she needs to compile a more detailed version that is more suitable for self-study?After all, there are not a few female workers who doze off from time to time due to exhaustion in class. If they miss something, they can refer to the textbook to make up for it when they go back.

Feuil's face flushed slightly. "I taught myself to read," he said. "You don't have to worry about that."

"In that case, we did print some more. Unfortunately, I didn't bring the extra materials with me." Corona said, taking out her own textbook from her bag, "If you need it, you can Take mine first."

"What do you want me to print?" Feuilly asked.

"Thank you for your kindness, but we don't need it yet." She paused, looked at Feuilly's expression through the shadow of the brim of her hat, and knew that the other party didn't intend to give up easily, "Would you like to leave an address? I will do it in the future There are also some teaching materials that need to be printed, and if you are willing to help at that time, we can pay you."

Feuilly looked at her suspiciously: "I'm afraid the place where I live is not suitable for a rich lady to venture to visit."

"—Anne will contact you." Corona said.

"Oh, I'm not your maid, I'm at your disposal." After Feuilly left, Anne jokingly said, bumping her with an elbow, "But why are you hiding it? You even pretend to be You've done all the boy's work, so you won't be ashamed to see a male worker, right?"

"Of course I'm not shy." Corona said, pushing the brim of the hat back up, and the two walked into the classroom, "I just don't want to be recognized by him."

"He even knows your name, so what does it matter if you recognize your face?" Annie asked, "Don't you like him?"

"I don't dislike him. Of course, I'm afraid I offended him to some extent, and that's something I can't help." Corona smiled wryly, "I hope I'm just worrying about it."

Of course, the world proved to her once again that when God arranges fate, he will not be so merciful to such small things.In the second week, when Coronna--Cole Caton went to Collins again, she saw a new figure sitting next to Rean.Just in time, Grantaire, Combeferre, and another medical student she had met a few times were also there. Five people plus Grantaire's large pile of wine bottles crowded the two small wooden tables that were put together. of. "Cole!" Combeferre, as usual, was the first to notice her, and raised his hand in greeting.

Corona squeezed through the scattered tables and chairs, and sat down at the table.As early as at the door, she recognized the young worker, her heart was pounding, and she could only keep praying that the brim of her hat was wide enough that day to cover her face tightly enough. "You are late today," asked Combeferre.

"Something happened at home." Corona shrugged lightly, "Who is this?"

"Haven't you seen it before?" Grantaire asked.

"I haven't been to Collins for almost a week, Grantaire. Are you drunk enough to forget what day it is?" Corona joked, avoiding the question.

"Since you're here, it's either Thursday or Saturday."

"Today is Thursday." Corona said helplessly, and nodded towards Feuilly who was opposite, pretending to be a stranger, "I'm Cole."

"Fuilly," said Feuilly.

The two looked at each other, Corona tried her best to look calm, but her heart almost jumped out of her throat.Could Feuilly recognize her?Although her disguise is very different, it can still be seen at a glance by those who are very familiar with her, such as Fantine, Jean Valjean, Cosette and Anne.What if Feuil's memory was very good, what if he had a particularly clear memory of one of her characteristics at that time...

Fortunately, Feuilly didn't show any signs of recognizing her. He seemed to just memorize her appearance, and then looked away flatly.Corona secretly breathed a sigh of relief, but the next moment she almost completely forgot about it.

"I just received a letter from Enjolras yesterday," said Combeferre cheerfully. "He will be studying in Paris in September."

The author has something to say: I did a search, but I didn’t find out when the scholarship system started in history, nor did I find out when the name “scholarship” appeared...so this chapter avoids it question.