Lesson 5: Planting the Seeds of Knowledge on a Rocky Island
The Song Tu Tay Primary School branch consists of two classrooms located within the premises of the island commune's People's Committee, not far from the residential area of the island's inhabitants. Upon inquiry, it was revealed that the school was located here to facilitate transportation for the students and to make work easier for the teachers. The four teachers at the branch school also hold other positions; one is the Vice Chairman of the commune, another is the Chairman of the Song Tu Tay Fatherland Front Committee…
During the break, we took the opportunity to chat with four of the teachers here. Teacher Doan Quoc Thai, the oldest, is 30 years old this year and is married; his wife works in Ninh Hoa district, Khanh Hoa province. Teacher Doan Quoc Thai recounted: In early 2008, after learning about the volunteer program in Truong Sa, he immediately volunteered. In his mind, and in the minds of the other teachers, going to Truong Sa was a great honor for young people to contribute their small efforts to building up the homeland's islands. Moreover, since childhood, they had a burning desire to become teachers, to stand on the podium and teach the children… Teacher Thai affirmed: Teaching in Truong Sa is a very meaningful thing. Not only myself, but the other 11 teachers in Truong Sa district all love this job.
All the teachers in the island district are non-professional teachers; the vast majority have grown up within the local Youth Union movement or studied non-pedagogical majors. Teacher Doan Quoc Thai himself recently graduated from a vocational school specializing in archives and records management. Teacher Thai said: Before coming to the island, the Khanh Hoa Provincial Department of Education and Training organized training for teachers on pedagogical methods, knowledge, and skills, but many difficulties arose when applying them in practice. For example, teaching the students about "rice fields" is very difficult for island students to visualize; it's impossible to form a concept through verbal descriptions alone, and vivid visual aids are essential, but there are a lack of them.
Faced with these difficulties, teachers are compelled to constantly think about how to make their lectures more effective. During their rare leave of absence, which only comes once every one or two years, they immerse themselves in training courses organized by the Ministry of Education to supplement and update their knowledge. Now, with the support and assistance from various departments and localities, the school has computers and internet access, allowing teachers to easily search for materials to supplement their lectures.
At the Song Tu Tay school, each teacher teaches one grade level, covering all subjects and teaching the children throughout their five years of primary school. After completing the 5th grade, the children are transferred to the mainland to attend secondary school. When the teachers first arrived on the island, the Khanh Hoa Department of Education only set the goal of teaching the children how to write, read, and perform the four basic arithmetic operations. However, after the first semester, recognizing their capabilities, the teachers boldly proposed and proceeded to teach all subjects. For foreign languages and computer science, they enlisted the help of soldiers stationed on the island who were proficient in foreign languages and computer science to teach. Therefore, whatever subjects students learn on the mainland, they also learn on Truong Sa Island… Evaluating the students' academic results over the past period, teacher Do Quoc Thai affirmed: "With few students, I can tutor 2-3 students at a time, allowing me to closely monitor their progress. Their academic results each year have consistently been good or excellent." The quality of education is ensured so that when the students go to the mainland, they can all keep up and continue the achievements they have attained. For example, Huynh Thi To Ngan, a 6th-grade student, achieved the title of outstanding student in Cam Ranh City last school year; Nguyen Linh Doan, an 8th-grade student, and Phan Thi Thu Huyen, a 6th-grade student, also achieved the title of outstanding student… The teachers regularly contact and inquire about the students' academic progress. And these results are a great source of encouragement for the teachers to continue teaching well.
Teacher Nguyen Dinh Viet's class time. Photo: MT
Under the wide, shady canopy of the Terminalia catappa trees in the schoolyard, teacher Nguyen Dinh Viet, also the Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Song Tu Tay island commune, likened himself, his colleagues, and the people of the commune to these trees. The Terminalia catappa trees in Truong Sa were only brought from Cam Ranh by the Navy's Region 4 about five years ago, but they have already spread across the islands. The trees take root quickly, provide large coverage, shed few leaves, and withstand strong winds and storms well… Talking at length, Mr. Viet recounted the simple yet incredibly warm and heartfelt Vietnamese Teachers' Day on November 20th. The students would arrange flowers like Terminalia catappa, Barringtonia acutangula, and wildflowers; some would paint pictures, others would sing and dance according to their talents to give to their teachers; The Party Committee and the island's command also came to share in the joy of the traditional day. Families on the island organized a small party to invite the teachers, demonstrating their respect for teachers and their commitment to education... During playtime, amidst the joyful sounds of the children playing, teacher Truong Su Long (26 years old, with 5 years of teaching experience and concurrently serving as Chairman of the Fatherland Front Committee of the island commune) shared: "It is the joyful sounds of the students that help us ease our longing for the mainland. On the island, teachers and students are also friends. Outside of work hours, I still play with the children, jumping hopscotch, bouncing balls, and drawing pictures in the sand..."
With his five-year term on the island nearing its end, teacher Do Quoc Thai expressed his hope that in the future, more teachers with formal pedagogical training would be sent to the island to teach the children, and that more visual teaching and learning equipment would be provided. “We can only give our all,” said Mr. Thai, his eyes pensive and distant. Looking at his face with its warm smile, his dry, weathered hair, and his sun-tanned skin, I understood the silent dedication of these men at the forefront of the waves…
Thanh Chung (Email from Song Tu Tay Island)
