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protectively.
"That's part of the reason I'm not proposing leaving right away. I'll be here for several weeks and I'll rest
up." Seeing the varying degrees of open skepticism on the faces off the other four, she decided to change
the topic. "I know it isn't what we'd planned but if we delay opening the revised programs, I think the
downside is offset by a couple of things. For one, we all get some of the pressure taken off. We also get
more time to prepare and we'll be more ready if we have the curriculum set up and the faculty and med
students have a chance to get more up to speed."
"If we switch the students and faculty between here andJena say, the end ofMarch, that would give us
the summer to polish up the curriculum." Werner said thoughtfully.
"We should be able to take in more students than we'd originally planned." Beulah said. "That should
help offset the delay. I'm also concerned that right now, all of our medical personnel are pretty much here
in Grantville. Granted, we have a few elsewhere but not many."
James followed her train of thought immediately. "We aren't at risk of too many battles in the near future
here in Grantville but if there is an epidemic, we could be in trouble."
There was silence except for the crackling of the fire for a few moments while everyone thought about
the implications of the changes she was proposing. Beulah looked contentedly at the fire. She loved a
nice fire on a cold, snowy day like today.
"There's another thing I've been thinking about. We have a very diverse student body, to use the up-time
phrase." Beulah took a sip of her coffee, savoring the taste. Although it was very weak, this was the first
cup they'd let her have. All her protestations that coffee could be considered a clear liquid too had gotten
her precisely nowhere in the hospital. "Let me give you a couple of examples. Fritz is literate and by the
time the classes start, he'll have completed the LPN training and have a little experience at that level. His
formal education before coming to Grantville was fairly minimal though because his family needed him in
the bakery."
"Ah. The reverse will be an issue as well for the up-timers," Johann chimed in. "While they have stronger
math and science backgrounds than any of us, they will need preparation for our type of university
education."
Mary Pat nodded. "We've also got a wide array of experience and education for those who'll be going
into the MD and RN programs, not just the fact that some will be up-timers and some down-timers."
Werner nodded as well. "For the medical students and faculty, most of us will need fairly standardized
content. We all need to know similar basics. For the incoming students it will be different. If we can get
them better prepared now, on, what is the phrase, a more even playing field, then things should go more
smoothly and the students will be better able to learn."
"I think this is the best idea I've had in a long time. This will solve a lot of problems. Granted, it isn't what
we'd originally planned but this way, we'll be able to enroll a lot more students in the fall and be able to
teach them better too."
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Chapter Nine
Early January, 1634
"Here, let me get that." Mary Pat took the sweater from Beulah's hands and folded it herself. "Are you
sure this is a good idea? You've only been out of the hospital for a month now. Why don't you sit down a
minute?"
Beulah obediently sat on the edge of her bed. Mary Pat was still not too sure about Beulah moving
toJena for months on end away from Leahy and James' eagle eye.And hers, of course. If sitting on the
bed for a few minutes and letting her help pack eased her mind a bit, Beulah was willing to let her do it.
Mary Pat made one final, rather weak attempt. "I still don't think you should be the one to go. I could go
instead. Or maybe Balthazar could go.It's slow season for spies, isn't it?"
"Actually, I thinkit's heavy duty plotting season for spies. I'll be counting on you, Balthazar, Starr and
James to get the ones staying here ready, including your three trauma junkies."
Mary Pat reached into Beulah's closet for another sweater to fold and pack. The bright yellow thing was
a going away gift from Garnet. Beulah had no idea where she'd found thread dyed that vivid a shade to
knit the sweater and matching mittens.Much less the time.
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