Chapter 149: Compulsory Education

Martin fell asleep hugging the coveted piece of gold. Google Search Reading

When he woke up the next day, the sun was already above his head, and his stomach was protesting.

Martin didn't care about being hungry. He stared at the 151-pound gold nugget in front of him and fell into thought.

There is no doubt that this is the largest natural gold nugget found in American history.

Gold can bring him wealth, but it can also bring him danger.

Especially such a large nugget, how to deal with it is a very tricky problem.

Martin first thought of selling it to Boston Company. He had old acquaintances in Boston Company. Many of these 49-year-old miners of the same period were already middle-level or even senior managers of the company.

And Boston Company also had enough financial resources to buy his gold.

But soon, this idea was rejected by Martin.

It is true that he had acquaintances in Boston Company, but he also had enemies.

When he followed Hawke away, Hawke took away the only gold of Boston Company. Many old employees of Boston Company remembered this incident.

It is not wise to take the initiative to contact Boston Company and sell this big gold nugget to Boston Company.

Since there is such a large natural gold nugget here, it also means that there is a rich gold mining area nearby. This news is more valuable than the big gold nugget in Martin's hand.

Martin not only wants to sell the gold nugget, but also hopes to sell this priceless news at a good price.

But the premise of all this is that he must find a suitable buyer with strength.

When thinking of Hawke, Martin thinks of someone: Liang Yao!

Hawke surrendered to Liang Yao on the eve of the demise of the Brandon gang and provided Liang Yao with information about the Brandon gangsters.

Liang Yao finally kept his promise and saved Hawke's life, but Hawke was afraid of the revenge of the remaining gangs and joined the Loyalty Society and was sent to Mexico.

I heard that Hawke was doing well in Mexico.

And he was just an accomplice, and he did not commit a heinous crime. It was undoubtedly a good choice to take this piece of gold to Liang Yao and sell it to Liang Yao.

Liang Yao not only had the financial resources to accept his gold, but also had the ability to save his life!

At this time, Liang Yao did not know that a huge natural gold nugget was found in Nevada's Golden Lake.

He was presiding over a meeting of the California State Assembly.

There are extreme people everywhere, but they are only a minority after all. Those who clamor to incorporate the entire Nevada region into California were soon drowned out by rational voices.

The California State Assembly passed a bill from Congress and the federal government, agreeing to pay Texas $5 million in territorial compensation in exchange for 50,000 square kilometers of land in the western part of the Nevada region.

The legislators cheered and thought it was the greatest day in California's history!

California Minister of Industry Fair, a young Irish-American miner who was proficient in mineralogy and had the connection with the deputy governor, took less than a year to develop Waterford Mining Company into a large mining company with total assets of more than $2 million.

It is rumored that Mr. Fair was highly regarded by the deputy governor because he helped the deputy governor explore the mercury mine.

Fair was not only successfully elected as a state legislator, but also successfully defeated his opponent and became the first Minister of Industry in California.

It is said that Mr. Fair is also one of the candidates for the California State Assembly.

"I propose that this ordinary yet great day be made California's State Day!"

Mr. Fair proposed his suggestion on a whim.

Soon this impromptu suggestion was unanimously agreed by the legislators.

"Now let's vote. April 1 is California's State Day. Those who disagree please raise your hands."

Liang Yao supported the podium with both hands, and his sharp eyes swept over the state legislators below the stage.

No one raised their hands to object. In fact, he was quite resistant to the date of this State Day.

"Unanimous vote passed. I declare that April 1 will be written into the laws of this state as the State Day!"

Liang Yao announced.

Immediately afterwards, Liang Yao read out the "California Compulsory Education Act and Higher Education Plan" bill drafted by him.

California now does not even have a Ministry of Education or a Secretary of Education.

The reason is also very simple. As a new immigrant state that emerged due to the gold rush, California has more than 80% of its population as young and strong adult laborers. There are no children of school age, so naturally there are no schools.

At present, education in California is a blank, but education in California is not a blank.

There is a small school in the old town of San Francisco that was run during the Mexican period, but with the annexation of California by the United States and the rise of the gold rush, this small school has long been closed.

At this time, Liang Yao's textile factory has been established, and the 1,200 female workers in the textile factory have failed to change the population structure of California. The new influx of young and middle-aged immigrants quickly diluted the population proportion of women and children.

This extremely unreasonable population structure must be changed. For this reason, Liang Yao has even considered drafting a bill to levy a single tax to encourage young and middle-aged immigrants to move their families to California. Although he will also be subject to a single tax.

Fortunately, this unrealistic idea only flashed through Liang Yao's mind. As long as these so-called Californians live well enough in California and truly regard California as their home, he believes that they will find ways to start a family in California.

It is far more reliable and practical to work hard to improve the living standards of the middle and lower classes in California than to rack one's brains to introduce unrealistic policies.

The content of the "California Compulsory Education Act and Higher Education Plan" is also very simple.

First, California will set up an education department to be responsible for California's education work.

Second, build state elementary schools and middle schools in cities and towns with a population of more than 1,000, such as San Francisco, Sacramento, and Los Angeles, encourage private investment in elementary and middle schools, and establish education foundations to ensure that children of school age can go to school.

California's population is very concentrated, and there are only three settlements with a population of more than 1,000 so far.

In the future, cities and towns will use population as the standard, with at least one state elementary school set up for a population of more than 1,000, and at least one state middle school set up for a population of more than 3,000.

Third, California state elementary and middle schools will waive all tuition and miscellaneous fees, implement compulsory education, and provide lunch for students in school.

Although California's finances are not abundant at present, this can still be done because there are not many children of school age in California at all.

Fourth, complete the compilation and publication of textbooks suitable for California within six months.

Fifth, complete the construction of a state university in California within three years.

Sixth, introduce advanced educational resources from the East and even Europe.

Most legislators agreed with Liang Yao's proposal. First, the proposal is reasonable. Second, it does not cost much. Third, California is in urgent need of well-educated workers, which the mine owners are deeply touched by. Fourth, the proposal can bring great positive impact to California.

If this proposal can be implemented, California will become the first state in the United States to implement compulsory education.

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