The dedication of a teacher in an island commune.

SGGP 24/11/2023 08:39

As one of the three school administrators and teachers working in Ho Chi Minh City honored by the Ministry of Education and Training as "Outstanding Teachers" in 2023, Mr. Le Huu Binh, Principal of Thanh An Primary School (Thanh An island commune, Can Gio district), shared many interesting stories about his life and career.

A debt of gratitude

Having just returned to Ho Chi Minh City after a trip to Hanoi to interact with 200 outstanding teachers from 63 provinces and cities nationwide, Mr. Le Huu Binh hurriedly returned to work. Joy and pride were still evident on his tanned face, but his sense of responsibility didn't allow him a single day of rest. Mr. Le Huu Binh said: “I received this commendation recognizing my contributions to education thanks to the love and support of parents and students. Every day I eat meals and drink water from Thanh An, so I always tell myself that I must live my life to the fullest for the people of this island commune.” Having been dedicated to the only primary school in Thanh An island commune (Can Gio district, Ho Chi Minh City) for over 18 years, Mr. Binh has witnessed firsthand the diverse family circumstances of his students and their efforts to overcome challenges. Therefore, he is determined to dedicate his youth to contributing to the transformation of this still-difficult area.

Born and raised in a poor commune in Nghe An province, Le Huu Binh, a young man, carried the enthusiasm of youth and a passion for teaching to Thanh An island commune to fulfill his dream. Every day, traveling from the mainland to the island commune by boat takes nearly an hour, not to mention the difficulties during the monsoon season when strong winds, rainstorms, and rough seas make the journey to school even more arduous. However, with his love for his students, the young teacher still regularly goes to class every day, bringing literacy and the hope of a better life to poor children. The school has long become his second home, so even though he has had many opportunities to transfer to a better environment, he has resolutely stayed in Thanh An to fulfill his aspirations.

"While principals elsewhere focus on management and professional development, I have to oversee much more, including extracurricular activities such as encouraging students to attend classes, ensuring no one drops out, and taking care of their spiritual and material well-being," Mr. Binh shared.

Every year, on the first day of the new school year, parents and students see a bright smile on the headmaster's face – the man who personally goes around soliciting textbooks, notebooks, uniforms, bicycles, and scholarships for the students at the beginning of each school year.

Parents and students in Thanh An island commune still talk about the "principal's free barbershop." It's a barbershop without a sign or a room; the teacher and students get their hair cut wherever it's convenient. "Most of the students here have parents working far away, and they live with their grandparents, so they don't have the means to take care of their clothes or hair. I thought I'd do whatever I could for them, and unexpectedly, this care helped them open up and share more about their family circumstances, bringing us closer together," said teacher Le Huu Binh.

Mr. Le Huu Binh, Principal of Thanh An Primary School (Can Gio District, Ho Chi Minh City), cuts students' hair outside of school hours.

I want to do more for my students.

For many years, students in Thanh An island commune have been familiar with the image of their principal, dressed in a white shirt, attentively and meticulously trimming each student's hair. Understanding the hardships and disadvantages faced by students in island communes compared to children in urban areas, recently, during the summer of 2023, Mr. Binh came up with the idea of ​​collaborating with the Thanh An Youth Union to organize free English classes for underprivileged students.

"Given the difficult economic conditions faced by both teachers and students, I gather every small step of progress from my students to motivate myself to continue striving and hoping to do even more for them," Mr. Binh shared.

In addition to ensuring students have good learning conditions, dedicated teachers also devote much time to educating students to strive for self-improvement in life, without relying on help from government agencies or social organizations. Because besides knowledge, the more difficult the living conditions, the more students need to strive to overcome challenges so they don't drop out of school, to work hard to change their lives, and later, upon becoming successful, return to build their homeland.

To fulfill that aspiration, teacher Le Huu Binh proactively integrated into the educational program activities that introduce good examples and good deeds, organized interactions between students and exemplary role models who strive for self-improvement, and showed them short plays and video clips to further motivate them to strive for success.

In particular, this school year, the school's teaching staff aims to build a happy school, helping students feel that "school is also home, and teachers are family," so that the distance between teachers and students disappears, and they can strive together in their studies and lives.

Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/tam-long-nguoi-thay-noi-xa-dao-post715500.html