Chapter 519 - 247 Bosses Gather (Part 2) (6.8K)

Once the leadership of the four colleges had all appeared.

William Whewell turned his attention to the following echelon and began introducing the undergraduate and graduate professors.

"Students."

William Whewell placed his hands on the edge of the podium, looked around the classroom solemnly, and said:

"The 1850-1851 academic year is a special junction, and in the coming year, everyone’s course schedule will be very tight."

"This must be something you were prepared for when receiving your course schedules."

Below the podium, hundreds of students, including Xu Yun and Wheat, nodded in unison.

It was mentioned very long ago.

Universities in the United Kingdom are quite different from local institutions.

Every December, they usually have a holiday called ’Christmas break’.

The entire holiday typically starts in early December and lasts until mid-January or late January.

University of Cambridge, University of Oxford, University of Manchester all adhere to this custom, even in 1850.

But on this year’s schedule, Xu Yun found that the duration of Christmas break was significantly shortened:

The entire break started on December 22 and hurriedly ended on January 2.

At the same time, the in-term course schedule was highly compressed in intensity.

Besides the fixed Sunday holiday each week, there were actually four days of classes!

You should know.

According to the schedules of previous years.

Two and a half days of classes a week at University of Cambridge was considered a lot; most students spent their time in the library.

Clearly.

Like this year’s expansion, this practice of compressing courses at high intensity is also in preparation for the activation of the United Kingdom’s national machine.

Subsequently, William Whewell paused before continuing:

"To more efficiently impart knowledge principles, by decision of the college board, the four Divinity Schools will adopt a cooperative teaching mode this year."

"Which means consolidating similar courses across the four colleges, and conducting collective teaching at unified times and locations."

"As for unique courses specific to each college, they will remain unchanged, balancing both aspects to ensure maximum faculty utilization."

Xu Yun quietly listened till the end, without much change in expression.

This practice was not particularly novel for the University of Cambridge; many universities in later generations did the same.

For example, civil engineering and landscape arts would have courses on drawing, and some schools would integrate them to undertake unified teaching.

At the same time, for many bachelor classes, these courses were the best chance to meet girls, almost acclaimed as "matchmaking classes".

Xu Yun had a high school classmate who found a girlfriend in such a way, now happily married with two kids.

Returning his gaze to reality.

After introducing the course mode, William Whewell dove into the main topic.

Still pointing to the audience below, he announced loudly:

"Next, let me introduce the first professor, the chief economics lecturer at Trinity College, Mr. John Ramsay MacCulloch!"

"Mr. John Ramsay MacCulloch is a highly esteemed senior, who will be responsible for the economics lectures at the four Divinity Schools this entire academic year."

"This course is compulsory for undergraduates and graduate students with undergraduate degrees from other schools, earning 3 credits!"

As soon as he finished speaking.

A frail, fair-skinned old man with a slender beard curving to the corners of his mouth slowly stood up from the front row.

Students below also gave a respectful round of applause.

Xu Yun also clapped a few times politely, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes.

Unexpectedly, the first professor William Whewell introduced was a famed figure in economic history.

Back when Xu Yun was at Ke Da, he had taken economics as an elective and had some memory of this big shot.

MacCulloch was the most enthusiastic supporter of the Ricardo school; he had mercilessly fired against Richard Jones in defense of Ricardo’s doctrines and honor.

After Ricardo’s death in 1823, MacCulloch actively organized a series of public economics lectures to commemorate him.

Another group of people founded a university, which became the University College London.

University College London later decided to institutionalize the lectures organized by MacCulloch, establishing the Ricardo Political Economy chair, appointing MacCulloch as the first chair professor until it ended in 1837.

His fame stems from posing an intriguing question:

Does the fermentation process of wine in barrels count as labor?

That is, assuming a barrel of new wine worth £50 is left in the cellar for a year, increasing its value to £55.

Is this £5 increase a compensation for the time value of the £50 capital or the labor value added to the wine?

This question was highly contentious in early economics, rivaling the line ’take half each day, never exhausting through eternity’ in Zhuangzi: All Under Heaven.

Besides, another thought crossed Xu Yun’s mind:

William Whewell is truly ruthless...

When accompanying Thomson to visit William Whewell, Xu Yun witnessed Purim arguing and throwing an axe when they debated the topic of economics classes.

William Whewell had previously stated that he would not let Purim successfully ascend, while Werner, responsible for reception, hinted that Whewell was planning to find someone else.

But Xu Yun always thought these were just angry words, that they would likely compromise in the end, merely a matter of concession on interests.