EducationIndex | Time Under Chaos | Concerning Amber | Education Education in Amber Amber City offers many opportunities for the advancement of a citizen’s education. Mandor's Edict funded the development of Hendrake University, as well as several minor schools through the wealthy sections of the city. These schools offer the upper and middle class access to wealthy libraries and highly educated teachers and scholars. This development has begun an era of scientific and technological revolution. Amber’s constant influx of different cultures and ideas assures this trend will continue and expand. Unfortunately, the common people remain either moderately (equivalent to 4th grade education) or completely uneducated. Most education for the lower classes comes through apprenticeship with either a craftsman or a guild. Because of the superior education offered by the Vigiles Urbani, more young people are joining their ranks. (From The Hendrake Guide to Amber) Before the death of Gerard, the populace was far and away better educated than they are today. Chaosian education places an undue emphasis on establishing Mandor’s version of history and insuring social conformity to Chaosian norms. To be sure, the previous system of education in Amber was eclectic. Some individuals were educated by private tutors, some in one-room schoolhouses, and some were educated in boarding schools. The Church of the Unicorn played an important role in educating those without means. Apprentices now must mix lessons in simple arithmetic with their job-related skills. Education for the very wealthy is now about the same, but lessons in history and civics now have a decidedly Chaosian slant. In general, it would be fair to say that most young adults have had the equivalent of four years of dedicated education in reading, writing, rhetoric, etc. That they have also memorized a succession of Chaosian Emperors and can identify the signs of many of the Houses of Chaos is of little to no merit. Under Oberon, Eric, Corwin, and Gerard, children had an average of ten years of education in the basics. Per capita rates of attendance at institutions of higher learning and master craftsmen per capita was also higher. Controlling the minds of the next generation is through the introduction of propaganda into the classroom is transparent, but the failure to educate them beyond the most basic levels of literacy and arithmetic is a sign of a conscious effort to control a herd of sheep. Even after Chaos is overthrown, the scholastic repercussions of this crime against reason will be felt for centuries. The danger posed by this new generation of brainwashed children who are brought up knowing nothing of the Eternal City of old cannot be overstated. If we do not act soon, act decisively, and act definitively… we will lose the hearts and minds of the next generations. If needs be, I will show you the actions which we must take myself. (From the writings of Johann Payne) |
