USSH — Notes of Mr. Pham Dinh Lan (Faculty of Journalism and Communication) during the visit and gift giving of the Trade Union Cluster of 5 schools to students and teachers in Bac Kan at the end of December 2012.
When teachers act as Santa Claus
The morning of Christmas was chilly. The fog hung heavy on the tree branches and hovered over the mountain tops, signaling the coming of a monsoon. In the village, there were the calls of children calling each other to go to school. Their hair still had drops of icy dew. Today was Sunday, the beginning of Christmas, bringing a different joy to the children. In just a moment, they would receive gifts from their teachers at the 5 universities in Hanoi. Associate Professor Dr. Dang Xuan Khang - Chairman of the Trade Union of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities - said: "This is an annual activity of the school in recent years and is the first time to coordinate with a cluster of 5 universities in Hanoi including: University of Social Sciences and Humanities, University of Natural Sciences, University of Science and Technology, University of Construction and National Economics University, participating in the launching program of the Vietnam Education Trade Union on supporting education in mountainous and remote areas. This support trip is for 600 students and 60 teachers with difficult circumstances who have actively strived to achieve high achievements in teaching and learning of 12 primary schools, high schools and secondary schools in Bac Kan province". The road from the provincial road to Xuat Hoa Primary School is not far but there are still many scattered rocks and soil. The cliff is like a natural shoulder for the school to lean on to protect from the north wind. Nearly twenty teachers of cluster 5 universities today, like Santa Claus without red coats and red hats... came to the children with practical gifts and sympathy and sharing with colleagues here who are overcoming all difficulties in life day and night, diligently training and educating the children to be good people. More than 150 million VND in support, the result of the mobilization of contributions from teachers of cluster 5 universities, is sincere feelings, is sharing, although not large but full of humanity. Looking at the cheerful faces expressing the innocent joy of the children, many members of the delegation could not hold back their tears in touching smiles. The gifts help the children have more motivation to continue to overcome difficulties, study hard and practice to become useful people for the country in the future.
Spirit of overcoming difficulties
When asked about the school, teacher Nguyen Thi Thanh Thuy, Vice Principal of Xuat Hoa Primary School, confided: “The school currently has 21 teachers and staff and 194 students. The school still has many difficulties, there are still temporary classrooms. There is no cafeteria so we have to ask people to cook at their homes. However, we do not take that as an excuse to neglect other things, but always focus on improving the teachers' professional skills. At the same time, teaching must go hand in hand with training the students, because they are at the age of forming their personalities. That effort has been recognized by all levels, and for many years the school has achieved the title of advanced student." Nguyen Thi Cam Ly is a special student, unfortunately suffering from leukemia and having to regularly change her blood. Her family's circumstances are difficult, but she is still determined to go to class with her teachers and friends. With her will and determination, the illness cannot defeat her. Li has always been a good student of the school, becoming an example for her classmates to follow. Hua Minh Hieu, Dam Quang Hung and many other children are from poor households, but with the encouragement of their teachers, they have tried to study well. When asked how they will use the gifts they receive, Nong Thi Uyen, an advanced student of class 5A of the school, replied: "I will give them to my mother to keep so that when I go to town, I can buy more books. I like books about fairy tales and fables the most"...
The road ahead
A colleague working at the National Economics University confided: “It is true that poverty spares no one if people falter, but it cannot do anything if people know how to overcome it.” That statement has a bit of philosophy, it seems that my colleague has partly summarized it through this experience trip. The spirit of mutual love in the community is a beauty, a treasure that we must use and preserve and develop. Associate Professor, Dr. Le Thi Minh Loan (Head of the Women's Union of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities) was a bit sad: "Only by going can we fully understand the difficulties of students and teachers in mountainous and remote areas. Each child has a fragile thin shirt, simple sandals worn out by time and the road to school. Only by going can we see, understand. And only then can we sympathize and share. Our ancestors have a saying: "A piece of food when hungry is worth a package when full". Ahead is the road. The road for people from the lowlands to reach the people, students and teachers in mountainous and remote areas is very open. To do that, sharing, no matter how small, requires a heart that resonates with a sense of responsibility.
