Teacher's heart

The open letter asking to "exchange flowers for gifts" from the principal of an elementary school in Ho Chi Minh City is receiving the attention of many people.

In an open letter, Mr. Le Hong Thai - Principal of Phan Van Tri Primary School (District 1, Ho Chi Minh City) refused to accept flowers on Vietnamese Teachers' Day, November 20, and hoped that parents would send other gifts: "Every year, on Vietnamese Teachers' Day, November 20, the school receives many congratulatory flower baskets. However, these flowers are only used for a few days and then thrown away, which is a waste. This year, the economic situation is difficult, the school respectfully hopes that instead of giving flowers, donors, businesses and organizations would change the form by giving notebooks, milk and sports equipment so that the school can reward the students."

In fact, this is not the first time that there has been a proposal to not accept flowers from schools and educational units. In 2023, the Department of Education and Training of Ho Chi Minh City also sent a message to partners, parents and agencies and units that they will not organize receptions, not accept flowers or gifts to congratulate on November 20.

Also in 2023, To Hieu Primary School (Buon Ma Thuot City, Dak Lak Province) also sent an open letter to parents, businesses, and donors. Instead of giving flowers, the school would like to change to giving health insurance cards to 55 students in difficult circumstances. The school's wish is to receive practical gifts to help students overcome difficulties and excel in their studies.

I will always remember the conversation with teacher Nguyen Tran Vy - teacher of Kim Dong Primary School (Tra Mai commune, Tra My district, Quang Nam province), who is often known by many people as "crazy Vy" when he traveled across the mountains to build schools, build classrooms, connect love, and share difficulties with people in the highlands. He connected to mobilize the construction of more than 60 schools and houses for students and teachers, and called for 18,000 gifts for people in the highlands. The total amount of money he called for to help people was more than 100 billion VND.

Being attached to students in mountainous and difficult areas, not only Mr. Vy but also many other teachers are having to teach and care for poor students every day, from books, notebooks, pens to boarding meals with all their hearts. In that place, the November 20th gifts from teachers are sometimes bouquets of wild flowers, a kilo of fruit from their garden that parents lovingly give with all their gratitude, sending their children to school.

Accompanying the school to take care of the activities of students and teachers, including paying attention to the difficult circumstances of students, is a necessary task of parents. However, the fund of the parent-teacher representative committee is limited, so mobilizing social resources is necessary. November 20 is an occasion for students and parents to express special gratitude to teachers who work in the education sector, which can be expressed in many different ways. Among them, there is joy from greeting cards, flowers, and gifts for teachers and schools. There is also joy from "refusing" to receive gifts and flowers to receive practical gifts for their students that have more lasting meaning. The voluntary sharing of teachers with students and parents is a precious heart of a teacher, and also a way to protect the image of a teacher in today's turbulent social life.

Source: https://daidoanket.vn/tam-long-nguoi-thay-10294601.html