[Video]

[shining_beacon]

[When the feed starts, Ozpin can be seen sipping coffee at a table belonging to a cafe in the central city looking curious.]

Because I've seen several of our newer residents talk about the educational facilities in their worlds, I've decided to make a casual inquiry. Call it professional curiosity. I am curious as to how the schools in each of your respective worlds operate. As an educator myself, I know how vital these systems can be in shaping and guiding our next generations, and am always looking out for ideas or methods that could better improve the situations at my own school. So please, consider this an open dialogue for the subject.

Comments

[video]

[dragonform]

There were schools where I came from, though I never got to attend them. When Weiss told me all about Beacon, I was hoping I could talk to you about what kind of place it was. The schools I'm familiar with taught things like reading and writing, not necessarily how to fight monsters.

[Though it just makes him all the more curious about Ozpin, Weiss, and Beacon itself.]

[video]

[shining_beacon]

That's a shame, schools offer valuable experience beyond just the educational value. That said, reading and writing are covered in the lower levels and at younger ages. Beacon is not a... "normal" school in that regard. It is very specialized in what it teaches, and teaches it out of necessity.

I do not know how much Miss Schnee told you about our world, but the Creatures of Grimm are soulless beasts that seek to return all civilization back to the void. Humans and Faunus only managed to survive this long through learning how to utilize Dust to drive the darkness back. It is a constant war for survival.

[video]

[dragonform]

She did mention the creatures of Grimm. They didn't sound so unlike certain monsters I've crossed paths with in my travels. Though she never mentioned anything about Faunus.

[He mulls over the idea, then he adds.]

I was an orphan growing up, so my brothers and I were more worried about making sure we had food.

[video]

[shining_beacon]

The Faunus are a rather delicate issue in our world, and hold special implications for some here in the city. What I can tell you at this point are that Faunus are humans that have some animal characteristics. Night vision, tails, ears, and the like. Historically they have been seen as... less than human, unfortunately, and have been treated as such. It is only in recent years that they have begun making strides in their bid for equality.

[He nods.]

A very understandable and noble thing. After all, all the knowledge in the world cannot help fill an empty stomach, and there are things worth postponing such pursuits for, family being at the top of that list.

[Video]

[tessenjounin]

Doctor Ozpin. It's been a while.

[Temari nods.]

There are two different types of schools in my world, and each with its own specialties depending on location and the specialization of each villages.

But basically, it is divided depending on the skills of the students it caters to. One is purely academic and for world progress. Whilst the other takes a more military form, and admits only those people with special skills or powers.

[Video]

[shining_beacon]

[He takes a sip of coffee while he listens.]

I see. That is not unlike my own world. The school I run is very particular in who it admits, given the nature of the subject matter. I must make certain that my students have the abilities required to thrive in the dangerous path they choose before I can allow them to begin training.

[Video]

[tessenjounin]

Yes. That's how it is in my world too.

The world is not safe. More importantly, there's constant conflicts between nations and villages. Thus, it's always important that there's a reserve army. Some children are admitted and promoted at a very young age. In fact, there was a second ranked officer, Chuunin, whom was promoted at the age of 6, he graduated from the academy at the age of 5. At this age, he was strong enough to fight and kill.

[Video]

[shining_beacon]

[He furrows his brow a bit at that. He doesn't like the sound of putting that level of burden on a child that young. Heck, letting Ruby into Beacon at age 15 was not one he made lightly.]

I am sorry to hear that your world is that dangerous. In mine, the primary threat comes from monsters known as the Creatures of Grimm. Their singular reason for existence is the destruction of all civilization, however because of that, they are predictable, and can be manipulated. We are lucky to have enjoyed a period of relative peace.

video;

[buriedtreasure]

Nanae Island sometimes gets called the Special Student Zone. It has 21 schools from grade school and up and it was made so that students could pursue whatever it is they want to, rather than just the typical jobs, provided that they put some of their profits back in after they graduate. I haven't been to any of the schools in terms of classes. I just wanted to help create a place where people could be who they wanted to be instead of doing the same boring thing that other people told them they had to do every day. I helped with the funding and a few other things since finding treasure and adventure is what I love doing.

video;

[shining_beacon]

That is indeed a very noble goal, and you should be proud of that. I wish that luxury that more worlds could enjoy. The type of school I run teaches what it does out of necessity, rather than desire.

video;

[buriedtreasure]

That's the problem with getting an overall peaceful life. It gets boring after a while since people always look for more no matter what happens. I'm definitely guilty of it. [ She's proud of that though. ]

What kind of necessity?

video;

[shining_beacon]

In my world, civilization is constantly beset by a group of monsters called the Creatures of Grimm. They are soulless beasts that want nothing more than destroy all traces of civilization. I train Huntsmen and Huntresses to fight them.

[Video]

[notsoholyspirit]

I worked at the DWMA... Our students are either weapons or meisters, and are either in the NOT or the EAT class. NOT students learn how to control their abilities so they can work in normal positions. EAT students are striving to work with Lord Death in managing any corrupted human souls and witches.

Both classes have lectures and practicals.

It's...not a traditional school setup.

[Video]

[shining_beacon]

Interesting. How do you classify students into the different courses?

[Video]

[notsoholyspirit]

A lot of it is preference. The EAT class is both competitive and dangerous. My class saw a lot of casualties when I was a student. It's the risk involved in working for the Grim Reaper.

[Video]

[shining_beacon]

[Have a slightly arched eyebrow.]

...The Grim Reaper?

[Video]

[the_roseblack]

[What a convenient exposition opportunity for people from lesser-known settings!]

Young children of the Scarlet Dynasty are tutored at home in the basics such as calligraphy, arithmetic, and archery until their ninth year, and then sent to board at one of the Blessed Isle's primary schools. There they learn history, geography, and philosophy, as well as practicing in athletics, swordfighting, and archery. After that comes secondary school.

There are a number of lesser secondary schools suitable for Patricians, but only four dedicated to the Dragonblooded. [Or seven, to be more accurate, but only the incorrigibly delinquent are sent to the House of Ancient Stone or the Palace of the Tamed Storm, and Pasiap's Stair is more for culturally assimilating those Dragonblooded who immigrate from outside the Realm.]

The Cloister of Wisdom is a religious academy dedicated to the Immaculate Faith and martial arts. The monks there train their body and spirit in the ways of the Immaculate Dragons. [not unlike a shaolin monastery].

The Realm's top military academy is the House of Bells. Those who study there learn to lead on the battlefield and drill extensively in group maneuvers and combat training.

The Heptagram teaches occult lore and sorcery.

Students at the Spiral Academy learn finance and politics so they may join the Thousand Scales as magistrates and bureaucrats.

I trained at the House of Bells. [Not to mention graduated with top marks and went on to become the Realm's most renowned general in recent memory.]

[Video]

[shining_beacon]

[He listens politely, sipping his coffee at times until she finishes. That's a lot of information and it takes him half a second to digest it all.]

If you don't mind my asking, what differentiates the Dragonblooded from others?

[Video]

[the_roseblack]

We are Exalted by the power of the Elemental Dragons in our blood.

The potential for Exaltation is passed down from parents to children, but the child of two Patricians may Exalt, or the child of two Dragonblooded may fail to do so. Exaltation always occurs between the ages of 10 and 20.

[melonsaregreat]

There are plenty of differences according to locality and the purpose of the school, but most children undergo compulsory education in what are considered either necessary skills for the majority of the population or foundational skills for specialized learning, at schools maintained by the state to ensure a supply of skilled labor. A smaller number attend larger institutions staffed by experts to develop specialized skills or knowledge, conduct research, learn a trade, learn magic, or attain an officer's commission or knighthood.

Twenty to fifty years ago during the second space race the reach and quality of mass education was probably the best its been in the history of the old world. But if you want to talk about educational policies they were still different for every country. A primary school in the old world and a military academy in the new world have little in common.

I just taught in a little rural school. Nothing special. And I've had a few private apprentices over the years.

[She's also a celebrated teacher in the school of hard knocks.]

[shining_beacon]

It is fascinating that your world has had the luxury of turning your attention skyward twice, if my assumption of your meaning was correct.

Still, do not downplay the importance of your role. I have been a teacher long enough to see that there is no such thing as "just" teaching. Some of the best students to come through my school have been from backgrounds that others would have written them off for. Farmers, refugees, aristocrats, it really makes no difference. Some of the minds you've helped mold and mature may very well shape the world for the better, thanks to the lessons you passed on.

[melonsaregreat]

Both of those efforts were part of enormous upheavals in the political order of the world with all the death and suffering that attends such times. The price of greatness.

[She just. Can't help but smile ruefully at his second comment.]

Well, it's true that I've had a few students who went on to great things, but I have my doubts about the current crop.

[virgochains]

[She's nowhere near anywhere he might recognize since behind her is a doorway colored in a vivid shade of blue, black, and green that were too natural to be from normal paint.]

We don't have schools here. But I suppose we're all a bit old to be students.

[shining_beacon]

[Have a hiked eyebrow.]

...I'm not sure I understand.

[virgochains]

[She'll smile ever so slightly and bowed politely.]

Please forgive my rudeness. I'm Virgo, a celestial spirit. We're all constellations here in the spirit world.

[Aaaand straightening.]

I don't remember ever going to school like humans do, but I have had a number of owners who either went to school or had private tudors. It really depends on social class and country from what Crux has told us.