For instance, get Kalvi to take in… what was the old term, ah, apprentices… take in apprentices to learn fabrication and metal-work?
And there’d have to be a discipline for mining, as well as metal-working. One for weaving; farming; fishing. And one for teaching, too. Of course, education in itself was designed to teach you how to solve the problems that cropped up in daily living, but for specialties you could really slim down to the essential skills required by each. As it was, that sort of apprentice system was almost in place anyhow with parents either instructing their kids in the family’s profession or getting a knowledgeable neighbor to do it.
Kalvi had both sons now in supervisory capacities in his Telgar Works.
And there should be provisions to save other kids, like Jemmy, and see that they were able to develop a potential not in keeping with their native hold’s main business.
Administer a basic aptitude test to every child at six, and the more specific one at eleven or twelve, and be able to identify special abilities and place him or her where she could learn best from the people qualified to maximize the innate potential.
Even in medicine, a new curriculum should be established, based on what was now available on Pern rather than what the First Settlers had had. Mind you, Corey was constantly regretting the lack of this or that medicine, or equipment and procedures that would have saved lives but were no longer available. Clisser snorted; too much time was spent bitching about ‘what had been’ and ‘if only we still had’ instead of making the best of what was available in the here and now.
What was that old saying?
“Ours not to wonder what were fair in life, but finding what may he, make it fair up to our means?” Well, he couldn’t remember who had said it or to what it had applied. But the meaning definitely applied!
Pern had great riches which were being ignored in the regret of the what had been. Even Corey had to admit that the indigenous pharmacopoeia was proving to be sufficient for most common ailments, and even better in some cases now that the last of the carefully hoarded Earth chemicals were depleted.
Basic concepts of maths, history, responsibility, duty, could indeed be translated into music, easier to transmit and memorize. Why, anyone who could strum an instrument could give initial instruction in holds, teach kids to read, write and do some figuring, and then let them apply themselves to the nitty-gritty of their life’s occupation.
And music had always been important here.
He put his foot down on the step, pleased with this moment’s revelation. A whole new way of looking at the education and training of the young, and entirely suitable to the planet and its needs. He must really sit down and think it all through… when he found the time.
His laugh mocked his grandiose ideas and yet, they’d had to revise and reform so many old concepts here on Pern: why not the method in which education was administered? Was that the word he wanted: administered? Like a medicine? He sighed He did wish that learning was not considered an unavoidable dose. Certainly someone like Jemmy proved that learning was enjoyable. But then, insatiable appetites like his for knowledge, for its own sake, were rare.
Clisser trotted up the last of that flight of steps in considerably better humor. He’d find the time, by all that’s still holy, he would.
Late Autumn at Telgar Weyr
Zulaya beamed at Paulin. “Yes, she rather outdid herself, didn’t she?” She turned to regard her queen fondly as the golden dragon hovered proprietarily over the fifty-one eggs which would, by all the signs, hatch some time this day.
All morning dragons had conveyed in guests and candidates.
“Aren’t the Weyrs over-producing a trifle?” Paulin asked.
Benden and Ista Weyrs had also had Hatchings in the past month.
He had lost two very promising holder lads to the Weyrs; a felt loss, as the boys could no longer journey easily between Hold and Weyr as riders were freer to travel, and to learn and practice other professions during an Interval.
“Frequent clutches are one of the sure-fire signs that there will be a Pass,” Zulaya said, “obviously looking forward to the days when the dragons of Pern started the work for which they were engineered. Have you heard that song the College sent out?”
“Hmmm, yes, I have,” and Paulin grinned. In fact, I can’t get it out of my mind.
“Clisser says they have several more to play for us tonight.”
“Just music?” Paulin asked, scowling.
“It’s a device we asked them for something permanent so that no-one can deny the imminence of a Pass.” Zulaya patted his hand encouragingly.
“You can ask what progress he’s made on that project.” K’vin, coming up behind them, casually laid a hand on his Weyrwoman’s shoulder, acting as proprietarily of her as her dragon was of her clutch. Amused, Paulin coughed into his hand and hurriedly excused himself.
“He’s worried about that fail-safe,” Zulaya said, also amused by K’vin’s show of jealousy but not about to remark on it.
“You’re looking very beautiful in that new dress,” he said, eyeing it.
“Am I? Why, thank you, Kev,” she said, twisting her hips to make the skirt whirl. Which reminds me…” and she held out a fold of the rich crimson patterned brocade which she had had made for this Hatching. “Fredig suggested tapestries, hanging in every Weyr and Hold, depicting the return of the Red Star - with the formulae in the borders. Make an interesting design, certainly.”
“Colors fade and fabrics certainly deteriorate.”
“We’ve some that graced houses in Landing. That Earth Moon scene which was made, as I’ve been told, out of synthetic yarns which are more durable than what we have now cotton, linen and wool. And even they are looking worn and losing color.”
“I’ll have them washed You’ll have them thread-worn. - ooops,” and K’vin grinned at the pun.
“Which is not what is wanted but there’s no reason, Kev, not to have a hundred different reminders. Something set in stone.” the Weyrleader said in a more sober tone.
“Even stones move - - Only prior to a Pass.
“Only how to perpetuate the critical information?”
“I think everyone’s worrying too much. I mean, here we are,” and Zulaya gestured broadly to include the Hatching Ground and the Weyr around them.
“Why else have dragons? And Weyrs set apart to preserve them, if not for a very, very good reason? They’re the planet’s only sure defense.” A sound - subliminal more than a real noise - alerted them.
It issued from Meranath who reared to her hindquarters, spreading her broad wings; her eyes glowing brightly green and beginning to whirl with excitement.
“Ah, it starts,” Zulaya said, smiling in anticipation. -Oh, I love Hatchings!” Hand in hand, the two Weyrleaders raced to the entrance and called out the news, scarcely needed, for the Telgar dragons were already reacting to the queen’s maternal croon with their deep masculine humming.
The Weyr Bowl became active with dragons a-wing in excitement, flipping here and there on seemingly unavoidable collision courses: with the Weyrlingmaster herding the candidates forward: with parents and friends of the lucky boys and girls rushing across the hot sands to take their places in the amphitheatre: hustling to get the best seating for the Impression about to happen.
K’vin sent Zulaya back to keep Meranath company as he urged people inside, checked the nervous white-clad candidates who had been halted in a clump near the entrance until the spectators were all seated.