Our Solutions
Based upon technology, resources, knowledge, and tactics used today, there are several solutions we could use to "go back in time" and fix the ancient Roman problem of the high price and lack of education. Here are some of the solutions we came up with:
1.) Gladiator fights, battles, circuses, and other types of entertainment were a huge part of the Roman culture. Admission fees to get into the majority of the amphitheaters that held these events were nonexistent; it was free. If the government made a small admission price and donated that to the schools, a lot of money would be raised. Hundreds of thousands of people walked in those doors, and if they each payed a small price, it would add up quickly. Understandably, some people would stop coming daily to these events. Maybe they couldn't afford it or they thought it was morally wrong. Even if they only charged people once every so often, maybe every other day or so, money would still pile in. We came up with a few possible ideas to keep people going to these events and paying. Once or twice a month, there would be a day when the public could enter the schools and use the books and resources for free. It would show them what they are paying for is truly needed and appreciated. They would then feel more inclined to keep paying for the admission fee because they would know it would go to a good cause. Another possible publicity idea would be to have "Colosseum Day" every so often. Admission would still cost a small fee, but the public could go and play games, get on the floor of the fighting grounds, and possibly have mock battles (with no real animals of course). It would be like a carnival, or festival, with refreshments, games, shops, and more. Shop owners could rent out a spot in the Colosseum on that day and with so many people there, they would most likely get a lot of business. It would be good for them to get business and their rent money could go, again, to the schools. These are only some examples of fundraisers that Roman schools could hold.
2.) Another possible solution would be to make primary school a law. We could then also set up a financial aid program. This could provide the lower class students with the money they need to get a quality education. The money would be provided from a few different sources. One of those would be the government. The government could be forced to provide schools with a certain amount of money each year. This money could go into a need-based scholarship program for less fortunate families. Another source of money could be from the wealthier families. The government could tax those families slightly more, and that money would go to the schools. The families might be willing to pay these higher taxes because it directly affects their children’s education and future. By giving the poor families portions of the money from this scholarship, the enrollment rate would go up. With more students, they would need more teachers. This means that schools would be able to hire more people. The government could also hire people to fill a new section of the government that makes sure that money is going where it needs to go. A position in that section of government could then ensure that the money for schools is distributed and used properly.The creation of these jobs would cause the unemployment problem to ease up a little. With more jobs in the economy, more people would be able to fulfill their tax payments, which would only create more money for the Empire and the schools. In the long run, this would allow there to be more scholars in the area. This means that there are more educated people to solve other problems that require real intelligence to solve. Also, these educated children would then be able to receive a job that they wouldn't have been able to get without an education. All of these things could aid the restoration of the Empire.
Before presenting our ideas and solutions to Emperor Numerious how important education is and what it can provide to a society.
1.) Gladiator fights, battles, circuses, and other types of entertainment were a huge part of the Roman culture. Admission fees to get into the majority of the amphitheaters that held these events were nonexistent; it was free. If the government made a small admission price and donated that to the schools, a lot of money would be raised. Hundreds of thousands of people walked in those doors, and if they each payed a small price, it would add up quickly. Understandably, some people would stop coming daily to these events. Maybe they couldn't afford it or they thought it was morally wrong. Even if they only charged people once every so often, maybe every other day or so, money would still pile in. We came up with a few possible ideas to keep people going to these events and paying. Once or twice a month, there would be a day when the public could enter the schools and use the books and resources for free. It would show them what they are paying for is truly needed and appreciated. They would then feel more inclined to keep paying for the admission fee because they would know it would go to a good cause. Another possible publicity idea would be to have "Colosseum Day" every so often. Admission would still cost a small fee, but the public could go and play games, get on the floor of the fighting grounds, and possibly have mock battles (with no real animals of course). It would be like a carnival, or festival, with refreshments, games, shops, and more. Shop owners could rent out a spot in the Colosseum on that day and with so many people there, they would most likely get a lot of business. It would be good for them to get business and their rent money could go, again, to the schools. These are only some examples of fundraisers that Roman schools could hold.
2.) Another possible solution would be to make primary school a law. We could then also set up a financial aid program. This could provide the lower class students with the money they need to get a quality education. The money would be provided from a few different sources. One of those would be the government. The government could be forced to provide schools with a certain amount of money each year. This money could go into a need-based scholarship program for less fortunate families. Another source of money could be from the wealthier families. The government could tax those families slightly more, and that money would go to the schools. The families might be willing to pay these higher taxes because it directly affects their children’s education and future. By giving the poor families portions of the money from this scholarship, the enrollment rate would go up. With more students, they would need more teachers. This means that schools would be able to hire more people. The government could also hire people to fill a new section of the government that makes sure that money is going where it needs to go. A position in that section of government could then ensure that the money for schools is distributed and used properly.The creation of these jobs would cause the unemployment problem to ease up a little. With more jobs in the economy, more people would be able to fulfill their tax payments, which would only create more money for the Empire and the schools. In the long run, this would allow there to be more scholars in the area. This means that there are more educated people to solve other problems that require real intelligence to solve. Also, these educated children would then be able to receive a job that they wouldn't have been able to get without an education. All of these things could aid the restoration of the Empire.
Before presenting our ideas and solutions to Emperor Numerious how important education is and what it can provide to a society.