China: By Journalists Eyes XIII. - At school
Published: 11.8.2012
Our bus finally stops at the end of a long, dirt track, in which about an hour ago has changed as if by magic a modern six-lane highway. My worries we will finish up on the roof, fortunately not materialized, we drove past woods and gouged out before us, football pitch right and green has left. Everything was dominated by ground shabby, battered gray building - school.
Harsh view suddenly changed. In two lines from the school door ran incredibly beautiful little children in costumes that are just filled with colours. I've never seen so many perfectly honest joyful smiles at one point. Schoolchildren and six-decade to perfect the wall of the lined up so that the first girl stood right in front of the bus door.
It started an incredibly emotional welcome. We were getting off the bus and the children one by one hung on neck the white scarves as well as on the farm, a tribute to the clients and friends. The moment we were all decoration, then to properly sort the pupils began to nudge, their natural laughter turned into laughter, the boys in brown or gray hats play started, we pulled over fist cameras and cameras and both boys were ecstatic. Grapes surrounded us, trying to get as close as possible lenses, posed, constantly laughing and obviously experienced a lot of remarkable moments.
Girls were more relaxed and shy, even if they black eyes shone and were laughing faces. I was really heart in her throat - so much beauty and purity touched me deeply. Girls in long skirt decorated with coloured embroidered red caps from which to them on the back and shoulders hung dozens of black long braids. The little “models” had on their hats attached to various extra trimmings - beads, flowers, coloured feathers ... Yellow, blue, red, purple, green - complete range of colours at a gala dress perfectly underscored children's skin colour of milk chocolate.
Order and drill by Chinese
We enjoyed the masquerade on school yard, took pictures, filmed, when suddenly the bell rang. The children, as if someone shot - all fell to the school door, dutifully lined up and we for them suddenly ceased to exist. Discipline, that our Western world has lost perhaps a hundred years ago. Shocked, we stood and waited to see what happens. Negotiations with the teachers and our guides turned out great - we can into classes, of course, in peace and quiet.
With my college - cameraman we are entering to the school building - apart from a few doors to the families there is no decoration, no boxes, images, only the bare walls cracked faded. We divide with college journalists in class rooms. At our class kids have mathematics. I am absolutely appalled - I know how exotic we are for the children are to have a special day today, yet when we cross the threshold of class, not turn our eyes to even one of the students. All eyes gaze intently toward the board, which is described for us the whole coded eyes, in Roman numerals there crouches a single number - the 349. Their teacher tell the sort of propositions and children choir declaim. Then he begins to cause the board - perhaps all hands are up, nobody wants to be left behind. And again - drill, drill - in my view teacher downright yells, small schoolchildren sits as ruler on hard chairs and a tack and correspond with one voice or repeat after their great model.
I observe the class and I feel that I was transferred to the 19th century. Teacher´s desk and benches are made of wood, a closer look reveals that he served several generations, the design is minimalist. Every child has a well-thumbed book bench, where writes by pencil. They are happier ones have a paperback book. But there is nothing more we find.
Finally, it rings and we have a break. Little schoolchildren again turn into a bunch of rogues. The boys convince gestures Slovak cameraman to play football with him. Many of us resist and take children into the arms - for those bystanders is that for some reason, incredibly funny and laughing heartily. I'm trying to find out more about this school from one of the teachers.
We are one of the most backward areas of China, compulsory education came here recently and we have the honour with illiterate children of half of nomads who live in the mountains, feeding on pasturage and only descend to the lowlands in the cold winter months. The government in Beijing is trying to change their lifestyle to many pushes to move to the cities. Officially in improving their economic situation, but the footnote is clear that the central government is trying to gain control of outlying areas.
The local school has 5 classes - education that gives children, roughly corresponds to our first grade. Compared with elementary schools in the more developed provinces, but here is teach the Chinese, math and sports. The more objects there is no time - namely education ends at the moment when winter hits. The school has no heating and no money to upgrade yet. I see. So here we are - Western journalists – we should spread the message to the world to that there is a corner of the world, who would welcome help. In Qinghai exist many schools that can be compared with ours - but the majority is the result of painstaking work various Western foundations and donors. Etch this in mind and I know about "our" school really going to write.
Although local facts come to us sad and unfair, these children live a wonderful and happy life. At least for now. The question is, which way primary education makes it more pleasant in the future. At the end of visit, therefore, schoolchildren still asking questions, what they would like to be an adult - all in just one match: "I want to be a teacher. I want to be a teacher." Amazing. The authority and respect for people who give them education and thus perhaps open the way to a simpler life is absolute.
Text/photo: Andrea Fantová
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Photo: Amy Challen a Jan Lidmaňský