Adjacent to the Au Co Mother Goddess Temple, the ancient Dong Lam area (now Hien Luong commune, Ha Hoa district) still preserves a century-old school. Through countless ups and downs, even without the sounds of teachers lecturing or children playing, the moss-covered, ancient school remains steadfast with its distinctive architecture, a witness to history and a source of pride in the studious and indomitable spirit of the local people...
"Dong Lam tiled-roof school" is now the Cultural Center of Zone 3, Hien Luong commune.
Witnesses of history
Located in a low-lying, flooded field, more than a meter below National Highway 32, the community center in Zone 3 of Hien Luong commune was submerged in mud for over ten days due to the impact of Typhoon No. 3. Looking at the peeling paint on the walls, showing signs of crumbling mortar from prolonged waterlogging, Mr. Nguyen Van Truong, the caretaker of the community center, lamented: “This was originally one of the first primary schools in the province, over a hundred years old. Throughout the years of war and storms, at most, only the roof tiles were displaced; never before has it suffered such damage. Just like people, as we get older, our health weakens, and this 'old' building also needs care and rest to regain its strength…” Born in 1954 and having studied at this school, Mr. Truong, like many people in the commune, is always attached to and proud when mentioning this ancient and unique building of his homeland.
Despite numerous changes in function, sometimes serving as a warehouse, sometimes as a community cultural center, the name "Dong Lam Tiled School" has been used by the local people for over a hundred years with pride as the first spacious tiled-roof school in Mau Ha Hoa.
The history of the Dong Lam Commune Party Committee (1930-2000) clearly states: "From the end of the 19th century until 1924, the French colonialists only built Dong Lam Primary School. The entire Dong Lam district had only one school, and it was one of six schools in Phu Tho province at that time."
The name of the French envoy who built the school and the year of construction are embossed in the center.
According to the elders in the village, in 1923, the French opened the first school in Minh Khai hamlet, formerly Dong Lam commune (now part of Zone 3, Hien Luong commune, Ha Hoa district) with 12 students. In 1924, the number of students began to increase, and the French built a three-room tiled house to serve as a classroom. In the 1924-1925 school year, the school was officially established with classes from grade 1 to grade 3, named Dong Lam Elementary School (meaning a primary school with all grades), with Mr. Nguyen Quy Han as the principal. At that time, the school served students from the entire region: the northern communes of Ha Hoa district, the southern communes of Yen Bai province, and some eastern communes of Nghia Lo province.
Dong Lam School is located right on the main road, on the right bank of the Red River. It's built of brick and cement, with a tiled roof. The entire school consists of three tall, spacious rooms with glass doors and shutters. The student desks are all made of sturdy ironwood. At the upper end of the school building, there's also a room made of bamboo and reeds. The school grounds are of a moderate size, providing enough space for a playground for about 120-150 students. In front of the school is a neatly trimmed hibiscus hedge, and there's a school pond at the upper end of the grounds. The school gate is built on sturdy pillars with a sign that reads: ÉCOLE DE ĐỘNG LÂM (Dong Lam School).
Over a century of ups and downs, the once magnificent and imposing tiled-roof school in the region has deteriorated somewhat, with peeling walls, damaged wooden doors, and the entire main entrance, which previously faced the fields, now facing the opposite side, towards National Highway 32. However, overall, the Western-style building retains its original appearance and sturdy structure, from the tiled roof to the replaced rafters, purlins, and crossbeams. On the wall, the red inscription "AE HUC KEL 1924" (the name of the French envoy who built the school) still stands out against the yellow background; on either side of the main entrance are a pair of Chinese couplets. In the vibrant flow of modern life, while the land of Hien Luong is changing day by day, the ancient school remains silently steadfast, enduring the passage of time as a living witness, a landmark of a painful yet heroic period in the nation's history...
Continuing to write the glorious chapter of our tradition.
When the French built the Dong Lam School, their purpose was to train a team of collaborators to serve their colonial rule and exploitation of Vietnam. However, completely contrary to this insidious scheme, the Dong Lam School, with its dedicated teachers, trained generations of students who were knowledgeable, patriotic, and provided the revolutionary ranks with loyal and courageous fighters. Although the signboard was in French, the name of the French who built the school was embossed in the center, and the couplet was in Chinese characters. But the content of the couplet composed by the Governor of Phu Tho in 1924 alone: “Europe and America are developing science at a rapid pace, they also started from elementary school knowledge/The descendants of the Dragon and Fairy must strive to study at this school to catch up with them” clearly demonstrates the will and aspiration for self-reliance, self-strength, and building a prosperous and beautiful homeland of the generations of Vietnamese people here.
The couplet was composed by the Governor of Phu Tho province.
The history of the Ha Hoa District Party Committee (1930-1998) records: “In June 1940, Comrade Tran Thi Minh Chau - a member of the Party Committee of Zone D, operating in Cat Tru (Cam Khe), was assigned the task of developing a base in Nang Sa, Hien Luong. She established contact with students of Dong Lam Primary School in Hien Luong to form an anti-imperialist organization.” This event demonstrates the close relationship between the school and the Party organization. As one of the Party's important bases, at this time, several teachers and students of the school were enlightened and received direct leadership from the Party organization, becoming key figures in participating in the activities of the Viet Minh Front. Under the direct leadership of Comrade Ngo Minh Loan and Comrade Binh Phuong, the Au Co guerrilla team, the Dong Lam guerrilla team, the suicide squad... were successively established, followed by the establishment of the Van - Hien Luong War Zone. The students of Dong Lam Primary School were key members of these organizations. On June 22, 1945, soldiers from the Van - Hien Luong War Zone organized an attack against the Japanese in the Deo Giang area (Van - Hien Luong region). On August 2, 1945, the Viet Minh army liberated Ha Hoa district, and the revolutionary government was established. Teacher Nguyen Luong Thuong, then a teacher at the school, participated in seizing power and was appointed Vice Chairman of the Revolutionary Committee of Ha Hoa district.
Over the past 100 years, the structure has shown signs of deterioration.
Following the success of the August Revolution, the "Dong Lam Tiled School" continued its historical mission as a place to educate and train generations of citizens of an independent and free nation. During the resistance wars against the French colonialists and the destructive war waged by the American imperialists, the school had to be evacuated and relocated several times. In 1977, when the school officially moved to Go Trong, the "Tiled School" was repurposed as a warehouse, kindergarten, and cultural center, continuing to serve the lives of the people.
Principal Nguyen Luong Thuong (wearing a turban and sitting in the middle) with teachers and students (photo taken in 1950, provided by the family).
"My grandfather used to provide accommodation for teachers, my father was a student at 'Dong Lam Tiled School,' and now the Principal of Dong Lam Primary School, Ms. Nguyen Thi Thuy Diep, shared: 'Over 100 years of development and growth, generations of teachers and students at Dong Lam Primary School have written a glorious and proud history with heroic martyrs, wounded and sick soldiers who did not hesitate to sacrifice and suffer for the independence and freedom of the Fatherland; many generals, high-ranking officials, intellectuals, and workers have contributed their efforts day and night to the cause of building and protecting the Fatherland. The glorious tradition of the school is a driving force that further strengthens the faith and motivation of today's generations of teachers and students at Dong Lam Primary School to strive to overcome difficulties, compete in teaching and learning well, and live up to the legacy of previous generations. The school has moved to a new location, which has been invested in and built in a spacious and modern way, but we still regularly remind and introduce the students to the former location of 'Dong Lam Tiled School.' We are very... "We hope that the 'Tile-roofed School' will be preserved, becoming a significant educational landmark for students and the people, inspiring pride in the studious and indomitable spirit of our homeland."
Sharing the same viewpoint as teacher Nguyen Thi Thuy Diep, Comrade Nguyen Van Kien - Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Hien Luong commune, shared: "Having been used as the cultural center of Zone 3 for many years, the building, originally the Kiem Bi Dong Lam School, is now 100 years old and showing signs of deterioration. The commune has a plan to move the cultural center to another location. With its special historical value, we very much hope to preserve the building as a place for activities and traditional education for the children in the commune..."
Preserving historical landmarks as significant sites for traditional education for the younger generation is a shared desire of the government and people of Hien Luong, so that the golden history of studiousness, perseverance, and indomitable spirit of the people of this Motherland region can continue to develop and spread.
Cao Khoi
Source: https://baophutho.vn/mai-truong-bach-nien-225043.htm
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