vncnus Chapter 79 Mrs. Gunn's School
Chapter 79 Mrs. Gunn's School
Chapter 79 Mrs. Gunn's School
Getting homeless children back into society is no easy task, and Zheng En didn't expect to achieve success overnight.
But some things are quite clear: education is essential for children to return to normal social functioning.
Although they were also part of the workings of this society, the cycle of growth and death, like wheat, is not the same as the average lifespan of 70 or 80 years for humans in modern society.
Both he and Bruce agreed with this view: regardless of whether these kids could achieve upward social mobility through education, preventing them from going astray and becoming gangsters would be a great achievement.
If you want them to receive an education, you must provide them with a place to study and teachers. The children's biggest concern, food and clothing, is actually the easiest thing to solve; as long as you have money, you can get food anywhere.
Regarding the venue, Bruce's original idea was to provide the children with a completely new educational environment.
It's difficult for anyone to escape the influence of their surroundings, let alone a group of teenagers. The East District is notoriously chaotic, a place teeming with gangs, criminals, and thieves. How can children grow up healthily in such a place?
Zheng En initially thought so too, but after talking with Jason and the others, he felt that this approach was inappropriate.
They were born and raised here and are already used to this environment. Sending them to an unfamiliar place would only make them more uneasy.
Just like Jason and the others, when they heard about the socialization project for homeless children, their first reaction was that the foundation had ulterior motives. If the children who had spent so much time with Jung Eun thought that way, let alone other homeless children who were more wary.
It takes skill to be a homeless child in Gotham, and it takes even more skill to be one in a place like the East Side.
During her conversations with the children, Zheng En learned that homeless children like them were actually quite fortunate, at least they were free.
Most children who are abandoned by their parents do not actually become homeless in the true sense. Some of them are adopted by churches or charities, while others fall into the hands of various intermediaries and become objects of their control.
Once they are under control, it becomes very difficult for homeless children to escape.
If the latter is less lucky, they will also be homeless on the streets, but the money they steal or beg for will have to be handed over to middlemen, who will then exchange it for a meager amount of food.
If they're lucky, the middleman above them will teach them a few skills or assign them various jobs. Some are like Jason, who can pry open tires, and others are like Casey, who can steal things. Some even roam around selling snacks and cigarettes and alcohol in public places like nightclubs or stadiums.
Most of these middlemen are connected to gangs, while a few work independently. Talented homeless children like Jason are most afraid of being controlled by middlemen or gangs, as their already meager income will be further exploited, and they might not even be left with a penny.
When they were homeless, they were only hungry, but if they were controlled by middlemen, they would likely suffer countless beatings. If they were sick or injured, their fate would be sealed.
The middleman won't bother to treat them.
If the school were located in a completely unfamiliar place like the Upper City District, Zheng En didn't know how many homeless children would dare to go in. Even if a group were forcibly taken in, they might all run away overnight if he didn't keep a close eye on them.
After careful consideration, Jung Eun chose the area where the three districts of Behring, Audisburg, and Crime Alley meet.
Two roads run through the area, providing access to nearby districts and allowing passage via a bridge and a narrow island to the Upper East Side.
Setting up a school here would maximize the absorption of homeless children from the surrounding area, and even children from families struggling to make ends meet.
Moreover, there is a charity boarding school nearby.
Zheng En doesn't believe that homeless children can get along with students in normal schools. America is a country that believes in the survival of the fittest, which is reflected in schools where bullying is particularly serious.
People of color and minorities are easily ostracized and bullied by their classmates; Marcus is a prime example.
Even though his parents are both legal citizens of the United States, he is still ridiculed with all sorts of nicknames.
His father was a plumber, and the other children, knowing this, also called him "Plumber." The title "Plumber" replaced his name for a time, so he hated nicknames and was one of the few homeless children who used his name.
Besides school bullying, their academic progress is also a problem.
As the children pointed out earlier, many of them are illiterate, and some don't even know all the letters of the alphabet. In this situation, acquiring a charitable boarding school with prior experience in related education is a good solution.
Especially when the school's principal is named Faye Gunn.
"Thank you for your kindness, Mr. Jean, but I don't need the funding."
The elderly woman with a full head of white hair adjusted her glasses and gave a polite smile. "Perhaps you don't know, my husband was a businessman in Australia. After he passed away, I inherited a large sum of money from him, and the school has ample funds."
After realizing the purpose of Zheng En and others' visit, she decisively refused the financial assistance and adopted a closed-door policy.
"Could we take a tour of this school?"
Zheng En had anticipated her answer, but she didn't intend to leave. Instead, she climbed up the ladder herself, saying, "You may have heard that the Wayne Foundation wants to help homeless children reintegrate into society."
Although he often jokes that Batman would catch lone little boys as Robin's dog poop, in the original comics, after Jason was caught stealing tires, he was actually sent to the charity boarding school run by Mrs. Gunn.
Contrary to its outward appearance of kindness, this school is actually training various juvenile delinquents.
They are taught how to use firearms and ammunition, and that even if they are caught after committing a crime, they can use their status as minors to evade legal punishment and be released after spending a few months in a correctional facility.
Jung Eun knew that if she explained her request for a visit in advance, it would only be rejected, so she simply took Sullivan and went directly to their door for a surprise visit.
Before Mrs. Guen could utter her refusal, Zheng En interrupted her, leaving her no choice but to passively listen to him.
"Just like you said, these children need a good education to help them escape poverty." Jung Eun looked at her with a smile. "That's what we think too, which is why we wanted to cooperate with you through this sponsorship."
"Although it's impossible to achieve that now, I still hope to learn a lot from you. What do you think, Mrs. Gunn?"
You've already said it all, what else can I say?
Regardless of her true feelings, Mrs. Gunn maintained a kind expression. "Of course, the more people who dedicate themselves to charity, the more children will be helped."
Sullivan, who was following behind Jung Eun, was taken aback as he watched the two chatting happily.
So he can speak human language!
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