Disgusting and expensive

The image of an open letter calling on parents to support a performance to celebrate November 20th at a cost of nearly 22 million VND is causing controversy in public opinion. Teachers believe that parents should not spend a lot of money on November 20th because it is "too offensive and expensive".

November 20 art performance with a budget of 22 million VND causes controversy

Recently, the Parents' Association of class 8A1, Nguyen Chi Thanh Secondary School, District 12, Ho Chi Minh City sent an open letter to parents in the class about raising money for the class's performance program to celebrate Vietnamese Teachers' Day, November 20, causing a stir in public opinion.

The content of this open letter is attached with a budget estimate for organizing a folk dance performance at a local talent training center.

Specifically, the folk song performance cost 10 million VND to choreograph, 5.61 million VND to rent costumes, 6 million VND to pay for food and drinks for 10 members of the art troupe, and sports activities. The total cost for this performance is 21.61 million VND.

According to the budget, parents from the gifted training center providing the above service donated 3 million VND. The remaining budget is 18.61 million VND and called for support from parents. Because this budget is too high and inappropriate, the teacher discussed it with the class's Parents' Representative Committee and did not accept this budget.

Ms. Lai Thi Bach Huong, Principal of Nguyen Chi Thanh Secondary School, shared that the school did not direct classes to mobilize parents to donate large amounts of money for the performance. The school also asked teachers and the class's parent representative committee to consider appropriate solutions and not to mobilize or donate such large amounts of money from parents.

Immediately after the incident was shared, many other parents expressed their anger because in a difficult economic period, spending a large amount of money on a performance is not reasonable: "My child is the same. Just for a performance class at school, hiring a choreographer and costumes costs more than 10 million VND. The total cost, including drinks, is more than 15 million VND. Very expensive."

Or a parent expressed: "I just paid 700,000 VND for the class fund, 200,000 VND for the class uniform, and now the class is calling for an additional 500,000 VND for the flashmob dance. Many parents agree, so why don't I agree to let my child be discriminated against?"

Controversial class fund. Photo: CMH

Previously, a second grade class at Vo Thi Sau Primary School in Ho Chi Minh City also caused a stir with the parent fund spending all the money in envelopes for teachers. On November 20 and 5 other holidays of the year, this class had "envelopes" for homeroom teachers, nannies, and subjects with the amount of money ranging from 1 to 2.5 million VND.

According to the school's explanation, this was an estimated expenditure that the class's parents' representative committee had proposed without approval from the homeroom teacher. The principal explained to the parents that the expenditure on caring for and supporting the teaching staff and nannies was against the regulations, and at the same time requested the parents' representative committee to return the money to the parents who had contributed.

November 20: Don't spend too much money because it's offensive and expensive.

Speaking with Dan Viet newspaper reporter, teacher Le Dinh Hien, teacher at Dong Bac Ga Inter-level School, Thanh Hoa expressed: "Parents should not spend a lot of money on November 20 because it is too offensive and costly."

According to Mr. Hien, on November 20, teachers need to rest instead of running after competitions, contests, and movements. In addition, teachers are also students, and need time to visit their teachers. The fact that society honors and celebrates this day is meaningful, teachers are extremely grateful, but it should be "compact, economical, simple, and practical".

Mr. Pham Quoc Toan, Head of the Natural Science Group, Deputy Head of the Professional Department of Huynh Thuc Khang High School, Hanoi, expressed his opinion: "Teachers need students to compete for good grades, kindness from meticulous actions in studying and practicing, gratitude with encouraging wishes and participation in the school's general gratitude activities. Honoring and performing arts to celebrate November 20 should be light, avoiding being costly."

Educator Gian Tu Trung, author of the book "Liberal Pedagogy - The World, Vietnam and Me", said: "For a long time, many Vietnamese people have considered November 20th as a special holiday, "Tet co tran". We naturally consider it a day to honor teachers and teachers also happily accept that honor, forgetting that this day was originally not created to honor or not only to honor.

It is a day to remind teachers of their sacred mission, it is a day to remind teachers of the journey of struggle that they have, are and will continue to go through to win the right to teach, the freedom to carry out their sacred mission."

According to Mr. Trung, the honor of society can be a joy for those in the teaching profession, but on the other hand, it makes conscientious teachers feel full of pressure and responsibility.

They understand that honor comes with stricter requirements, especially when recently the teaching profession has been viewed with disrespect by society with a series of cases of "one bad apple spoiling the barrel". For them, if they do nothing for society but accept honor for granted, it is shameful.

In today’s era, the significance of November 20 is not limited to establishing and honoring the teaching profession. That day would have greater significance if it were a day for those working in the teaching profession to rethink and re-perceive their work and profession, as well as redefine the role and mission of the profession towards learners and society in the new context.

Source: https://danviet.vn/tu-vu-keu-goi-phu-huynh-gop-gan-22-trieu-dong-mung-van-nghe-ngay-20-11-gay-tranh-cai-phan-cam-va-ton-kem-20241105110008574.htm