PAUL: Well.... We plan, tentatively, a hundred family units
here at Jensen City, a population of maybe a thousand
adults, no larger. When that point is reached (several years
away) then we must plan and build another town, probably
here on the island. At that point we add new problems and
perplexities. We may not need a monetary system until there
are several towns; when we do, it will not develop
haphazardly, but with the aid of all past knowledge we
possess, for safeguard and guidance.
SLADE: And when there are fifteen or twenty such
communities?
PAUL: They will want an over-all government; a miniature of
a federal system, we suppose. A republic, with fully
functional representative procedures, checked and
safeguarded against every abuse of power. Because in all our
study and memories of history, we've found no other type of
government that can operate with fairness to majorities and
minorities alike and leave men as free as any social animal
can ever be free. For that matter, Captain, we sometimes
glance ahead to a time when there will be hundreds or
thousands of towns: a time when our great-grandchildren of
all three races may want to experiment with large cities,
elaborate industries. Such things will bring their own heavy
difficulties, but we have reason to hope that our
great-grandchildren will have the patience and courage to
solve them as they arise. Brodaa, tell them about the
school.
BRODAA: I am not good in exposition, Paul.... We
are--strict, Captain, that the children should learn all the
tested factual knowledge we can give them. They must read,
speak, write--clearly, precisely, honestly. We do not allow
them to leave a method half learned, a task half done. If
there is a question, they must search for an answer; if
there is no sufficient answer known, they must learn to test
the insufficient answers and wait judgment. My own language
has flaws--I am an old woman--I still go to school, to Paul,
Mashana Dorothy, Dr. Wright, to learn more for my own sake
and for the little ones I teach. They must learn the
fundamental methods and facts as soon as they can start to
think at all. We are never afraid of teaching any child too
much or too soon--we respect them. Oh, Mashana, I was
wishing you would return.
DOROTHY: Need has arisen for the Dope? What goes on more or
less?
ELIS: Education.
PAUL: How is--
SPEARMAN: How is she?
DOROTHY: She is asleep, Ed. Nothing to worry about.
PAKRIAA: She will be healed.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account