A teacher in Da Nang City, after retiring, still diligently teaches poor children for free, helping them confidently go to school.
The house of Ms. Dao Thi Nhung (born in 1956) is located in a small alley on Trung Nu Vuong Street (Binh Hien Ward, Hai Chau District), always bustling with voices and laughter every evening. After school, children carry their bags here to improve their knowledge.
“Happy Classroom” by teacher Dao Thi Nhung
Support poor students
In 2015, Ms. Nhung retired after 35 years of teaching at Le Do Secondary School (Son Tra District, Da Nang City).
Not wanting to "retire early", she participated in social activities in her hometown. At this time, she witnessed many students with the ability to study but whose families were in difficult circumstances. Some were orphans, some had parents who had to work far away, some lived with their grandparents... All had one thing in common: they did not have the conditions to receive support for their studies.
The first class opened with a student named Nguyen Thi Phuong Hong. Hong's mother died of cancer, and her father left. Hong lived with her aunt who was born deaf and mute. Through the introduction of the Women's Union of the ward, Ms. Nhung accepted Hong to tutor her at home after school hours. Hong stayed with Ms. Nhung's class for 2 years, 8th and 9th grade. After that, she went to vocational school, but occasionally returned to visit the teacher who had supported her every step of the way.
After teaching Hong, Ms. Nhung began to have the idea of organizing a class with more students, mainly those from poor families. So she went looking for... students. The next two students she brought to the class were siblings whose parents were divorced and who lived with their grandparents. Their grandfather had a stroke, so the two siblings suffered many disadvantages compared to their peers. From being average students, after many years of being attached to the class, the two siblings became excellent students.
Currently, Ms. Nhung's class has 17 students studying in all grades from elementary to middle school. Ms. Nhung is a literature teacher, so she only teaches knowledge according to textbooks for elementary school students (in all subjects) and literature for middle school students. However, the good thing about her is that she lets middle school students cross-study with each other. Students who are good at English will tutor weaker students and the same goes for other subjects. Therefore, the class is always very fun. Ms. Nhung said that because the curriculum has changed a lot now, she has to study continuously to update her knowledge. There are days when students ask questions that she doesn't understand clearly, so she looks it up online or asks her colleagues for help.
Students during recess at “Happy Classroom”
Godmother
In Ms. Nhung's class, students are cared for like their own children. When they come to class, they are served a snack. "Some days it's bread, other days it's wrapped cakes... In general, the students never go hungry," Ms. Nhung said with a smile.
To have money to take care of the children, in addition to spending her own money, she also collects scrap metal and sells it to raise funds to support the students of the class. Not only does she teach and provide free meals, Ms. Nhung also buys books, school supplies, uniforms, etc. for the children at the beginning of each new year. This money is taken from her piggy bank savings. Not stopping there, Ms. Nhung also calls on benefactors to support rice and necessities for the children's families to reduce difficulties in life.
"Ms. Nhung is like a godmother, taking care of us in our studies and in our lives," said Pham Thi Thanh Xuan, a 12th grade student. Although she is no longer in class, Xuan still receives books and ao dai from Ms. Nhung at the beginning of the new school year.
Not only teaching knowledge, every Saturday, Ms. Nhung opens a class for students to gather and interact. This class has no books but only singing, talking, and laughter. "There, I teach them life skills, they play together, and chat closely" - Ms. Nhung shared.
For Ms. Nhung, giving away letters is a joy. She already has knowledge, now she just hopes to have the health to maintain the class. Initially, the class was called "0 Dong" but later changed to "Happy Class" because Ms. Nhung wanted the children to feel comfortable when coming here - everyone can study and have fun.
Source: https://nld.com.vn/lop-hoc-hanh-phuc-cua-co-nhung-196241130193551014.htm
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