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Chapter 1336: Education Reform Initiated

Joseph continued, "I plan to establish a brand-new 'Ministry of Science and Education' to take over all matters from childcare to university, including the French Academy of Sciences."

The archbishops and others exchanged glances. Though they all bowed their heads, their expressions showed little panic.

Beaumont carefully glanced at the Crown Prince, feigning regret. "It's entirely up to you, Your Highness."

Over the past two years, church schools had been thoroughly overshadowed by the new primary schools, which was Known to All.

After the recent mathematics competition, the Oratorian Order, which had previously represented the highest level of church education, had its reputation thoroughly ruined.

Coupled with the public's severe dissatisfaction with the slow progress of public childcare, the Crown Prince's decision to terminate the Church's authority over education was absolutely justified.

In fact, Beaumont and the others had their own calculations.

After losing control of the education system, the Church would indeed lose some social influence, but it would also gain considerable benefits.

First, the Church annually spent enormous funds on schools at all levels. This wasn't just for the maintenance and repair of church schools; sometimes even universities with government funding would approach the Church for money when expanding facilities or lacking research funds.

Once the education system was handed over, the Church would have to give this money to the Ministry of Science and Education, but then the initiative would be in the Church's hands.

The Church could declare its past educational expenditures to be very low and allocate funds based on that standard. They estimated they could save millions of Francs annually compared to the current situation.

Second, during the process of transferring church schools to the Ministry of Science and Education, past bad debts and deficits could conveniently "disappear." This meant that churches in various regions would effectively gain an income.

Finally, and this was also the biggest headache for Beaumont and other high-ranking church officials, the establishment of a national public childcare system would also be offloaded to the Ministry of Science and Education.

Keep in mind, this was a massive project that would cumulatively cost tens of millions of Francs.

As for the lost social influence, as long as churches still stood in various regions and people still required Baptism and Mass, the Church wasn't overly concerned.

Joseph nodded in satisfaction. "The Church has made outstanding contributions to French education. I hope you will manage the transfer of these matters to the Ministry of Science and Education effectively."

Archbishop Beaumont and the others bowed in unison. "We shall obey your command, Your Highness."

As they were preparing to withdraw, they saw the Crown Prince raise a hand, as if suddenly remembering something. "Ah, yes, there's also the matter of the welfare homes."

Alexandra immediately added, "Reportedly, nearly all welfare homes mistreat those under their care, and there's widespread embezzlement of charitable funds."

Beaumont and the others instantly grew tense again. The Church's luck had truly been terrible recently; everything seemed to be piling up at once.

Just as Beaumont was about to 'reflect deeply', he heard the Crown Prince say, "Actually, public charity can be entirely entrusted to the Ministry of Civil Affairs. Monsieur Roland submitted a relevant report last year.

"Oh, and the Crown Princess, she's also very concerned about charity."

Alexandra immediately nodded vigorously in agreement.

Joseph continued, "Therefore, from now on, the Crown Princess will be responsible for establishing a 'Public Relief Office'. She will personally serve as its head to promote the standardization of welfare homes.

"It will also be more convenient for Her Majesty the Queen to make charitable donations in the future."

Beaumont and the others exchanged glances again, reluctance evident on their faces.

Welfare homes, after all, offered considerable illicit gains—charitable funds were siphoned off from both ends, and those confined in welfare homes could be used for free labor. Some large dioceses could even earn three to four hundred thousand Francs a year.

But with His Highness the Crown Prince even bringing up the Queen and the Crown Princess, and the journalist named Landry continuously exposing their secrets, the archbishops truly couldn't find a reason to refuse.

Beaumont sighed inwardly and was the first to bow, saying, "Yes, Your Highness. May God bless Her Gracious Highness the Crown Princess."

The high-ranking church officials exited Versailles Palace. Their faces showed disappointment, but more so relief.

Archbishop Agde sighed, "While there are some losses with the welfare homes, we can fully recoup them from the church schools."

Archbishop Chartres nodded. "And we've shed the burden of public childcare; that's a true abyss for devouring gold coins."

Archbishop Beaumont, turning to Archbishop Boissy, offered comfort, saying, "The matter is finally resolved. You can go to Carcassonne with peace of mind. I'll arrange for a portion of the income from your former diocese to be transferred to you."

The group discussed the redistribution of benefits after this upheaval and boarded their carriages one after another.

Little did they know, however, His Highness the Crown Prince had already orchestrated the Church's profit distribution, and a massive pitfall awaited them ahead.

Inside Versailles Palace, Alexandra, linking her arm with Joseph's, slowly walked toward the banquet hall and said with a touch of regret, "Your Highness, if this is the case, your Church reform plan won't be able to proceed."

Joseph turned to look at her beautiful large eyes, thinking to himself, 'The little girl from back then has truly grown up and can even assist in such important matters now.'

He smiled faintly. "However, regaining control of the education system went more smoothly than expected."

Alexandra nodded. "Archbishop Beaumont and the others clearly didn't realize that the church schools across the nation were their biggest trump card."

"The Church reform might progress slower, but it won't be halted." Joseph looked at the banquet hall doors before them, adjusting his collar. "My biggest trump card is yet to be played."

...

A few days later, the French Ministry of Science and Education was officially established, with the renowned mathematician Monge appointed as its first Minister.

Joseph knew Monge's capabilities extended far beyond mathematics. Historically, Monge had served as Napoleon's Minister of the Navy and personally founded the École Normale Supérieure in Paris. He undoubtedly possessed the ability to manage the Ministry of Science and Education effectively.

Viscount Dubuisson, founder of the New Elementary School, was promoted to Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Science and Education, primarily responsible for primary and secondary education.

All previously established new primary schools were uniformly acquired by the government and converted into public institutions.

Joseph, as a major shareholder of the new primary schools, transferred his shares to the Ministry of Science and Education without compensation.

...

The western French city of Angers.

With a standard clerical haircut and dressed in a somewhat faded gray robe, Langlois emerged from the classroom and immediately saw his colleague and friend, Lemais, waiting for him under a tree ahead.

"You're certainly quick," he waved a hand, saying, "Yes, these questions must be nothing to you."

Lemais had attended the University of Poitou. Had he not offended an archbishop, he certainly wouldn't have been assigned to teach young children in a church school.

Lemais stepped forward and put an arm around his shoulder. "How did you do?"

"Alright, I suppose. Getting the lowest tier of salary shouldn't be an issue."

"I imagine Delorme and his kind are in for trouble if our new Minister is true to his word."

The first thing Dubuisson did after taking office was to, by the Crown Prince's order, conduct a unified assessment of the priests in the former church schools.

Priests who passed the assessment would continue teaching and receive 1.2 times their previous salary. Those with excellent scores could even earn up to 2.5 times their salary.

Priests who failed, however, would face being sent back to the monastery or performing odd jobs in the reformed public primary schools.