Education begins with experience

At the end of May, right after the end of the school year, the “Go to Understand” group of the Green Club in Hanoi had a “Lighting the Fire of Gratitude” journey in Quang Tri province. The group gathered 105 members, mostly primary and secondary school students. Many parents and grandparents also participated, including eight veterans and youth volunteers from the anti-American resistance war to save the country.

From Hanoi, the delegation took a train to Quang Tri , then to Con Co Island. Here, the delegation performed the flag-raising ceremony, visited and presented gifts to students of Hoa Phong Ba Kindergarten and Primary School; listened to Navy soldiers tell stories of fighting to defend the island, stories of young volunteers who went to the island to build a new life...

Returning to the mainland, the delegation offered incense to the heroic martyrs at Quang Tri Citadel, Truong Son Martyrs Memorial Temple, Truong Son Martyrs Cemetery; visited Vinh Moc tunnel, Hien Luong bridge, Ben Hai river, bomb house, Do Bau farm...

Many members of the delegation cried with emotion when they sang the national anthem for the first time at the foot of the national flagpole on Con Co Island, burned incense on the graves of martyrs in the Truong Son Martyrs Cemetery; touched the shells of bombs with the destructive power of war, visited the underground village in Vinh Moc tunnels...

“I want to bring my children here to understand the pain of war, the sacrifices, the indomitable spirit, the strong will and the aspiration for national unification of our ancestors, so that they can understand the value of peace and life today” – Ms. Nguyen Thi Quyet, mother of Le Duy Kien, Trung Vuong Secondary School said.

Educational experiential activities are a trend that many parents choose for their children during the summer vacation. Ms. Nguyen Quynh Trang, an experienced person in coordinating and developing summer course content for students, shared: In previous years, summer vacation was an opportunity for parents to increase extra classes to consolidate and improve their children's knowledge of cultural subjects. However, their awareness has now changed a lot. Along with cultural studies, parents want to guide their children to physical training activities, develop their talents, nurture their souls and help them have real-life experiences. Summer camp models that help balance between studying, physical activities and real-life experiences; between playing and working, doing housework; courses that foster confidence, foster gratitude... are being interested by many parents, chosen for their children to participate in, helping them have a summer that is both joyful, reduces academic pressure, and is both useful and interesting.

Mr. Vu Thanh Ha, a retired police officer, who founded the “Go to Understand” group out of love for children, said: “Through field trips, learning about history and nature, and participating in volunteer activities, children are not only enriched with knowledge, trained, and developed life skills, but also learn how to share and spread love to the community. I always believe that children who are nurtured with a love of their roots, attached to their homeland, country, and people, and grow up with feelings of pride and gratitude for the nation’s history will certainly grow up to be more mature and steadfast”…

At the end of March, nearly 100 students and parents of the “Go to Understand” group had an experiential trip from Hanoi to Dien Bien Phu. Ms. Thanh Ha shared: “Although it is less than an hour flight from Hanoi to Dien Bien, we chose to go by road so that the children could see with their own eyes the old road where generations of our ancestors pulled cannons, carried goods, crossed many steep, deep, dangerous mountains, with their bare, skin-scratched hands, their bloody shoulders, their blistered, purple feet under the rain of bombs and bullets of the enemy. The experiential trip helped the children feel part of the sacrifices and hardships of their ancestors during the nine-year resistance war that created a Dien Bien Phu that was famous in five continents and shook the world.”

A true summer vacation is when students do not play around or study hard in extra classes. They need to rest after a hard year of studying, and at the same time gain new skills and knowledge through fun activities and experiences. Each field trip will help students discover the beauty of nature, people, and the country, learn, study, and practice, thereby changing their perceptions, attitudes, behaviors, and positive emotions.

Education PhD Nguyen Thuy Anh, shared: “I always hope that, no matter where you experience summer camp, children and their stories are still the center of all activities. The effectiveness of a summer camp is the maturity that we see even after a short period of time.”

Source: https://nhandan.vn/giao-duc-bat-dau-tu-trai-nghiem-post813903.html