Chapter 108 Learning Never Ends
The two educated youth who came to Liushutun to work in the countryside were both from Taoyuan Commune. Coincidentally, both had the surname Sun: Sun Liwei and Sun Xiuwei. They sounded like brothers, but in fact, they were not related. Both had graduated from junior high school and were under 18 years old.
After the school was closed, they had nothing to do and just stayed at home. They were young, so they were not in a hurry even if they couldn't find a job for a while. Unexpectedly, they were caught up in the Up to the Countryside Movement.
One day, Xie Yun was chatting with Yan Guixiang. "The country is now paying so much attention to the education of children from poor and lower-middle peasants. Primary and junior high schools are springing up everywhere, and all students of school age are required to go to school. It doesn't matter if they can't afford the tuition. We want to ensure that children don't miss out on education. How wonderful! Kids today are living in a good time."
Look at people my age, and even older ones. Many haven't even finished elementary school, let alone junior high. When people ask about their education level, they're embarrassed to tell me. While everyone can more or less read and write, being literate and having a diploma are two different things.
She asked Yan Guixiang, "What do you mean by appropriate age? Does that mean older people can't go to school? Can't they get a diploma?"
Yan Guixiang answered crisply: "Yes!"
In this day and age, everything is possible!
Yes, what does "appropriate age" mean? In the past, children dropped out of school early for various reasons, and some even never attended school. Now that the country prioritizes basic education for poor and lower-middle peasants and supports the transfer of public primary schools to brigades, isn't it okay for brigades to also run schools for adults? Is it okay to give adults an opportunity to receive an education?
In the past, whether these children could go to school was decided by their parents, but now, they have the final say!
If you have to work during the day, you can schedule your classes in the evening. The key is whether you have the will to improve. As long as you have the required level, the school will give you a diploma.
【Primary School Graduation Certificate】
Moreover, the country has provided ready-made teachers, which is really great.
Two days later, the brigade's loudspeaker began blaring. Zhang Guangzong announced, "Attention fellow members! The brigade has decided to establish a night school. Everyone can sign up. Educated youth Sun Liwei and Sun Xiuwei will be the night school teachers, teaching academic subjects. At the end of the year, those who pass will receive a primary school diploma. Those who fail should continue to work hard and take the exam next year."
As soon as the news came out, Liushutun Brigade was in an uproar.
Some people think this is meaningless. What's the point of graduating from elementary school? Middle school and high school students are all going to the countryside now, carrying manure like them. They curl their lips and comment, "It's just such a boring job."
But there are also many people who actively sign up, such as the women in the village.
At the age when they should be going to school, girls are usually forced to drop out, while boys more often drop out because they don't want to go or because they fail to get into middle school.
Women who have wanted to go to school but couldn't have done so now have an opportunity, so they must seize it. The age range of the women who signed up ranges from their teens to their forties. There are younger women like Liu Mei and Qi Mei, and older women like Zhang Ruifeng.
After working at the grain store for a while, Zhang Ruifeng fully realized that a diploma isn't everything, but without one, you can't do anything. Without a diploma, you might be able to get a job, but future promotions and job transfers will depend on your education and qualifications.
On the first day of night school, four-fifths of the students in the classroom were lesbians.
The brigade leadership team is here.
Yan Guixiang specifically called out Zhang Ruifeng's name and asked her, "Why do you want to go to night school when you already have a stable job?"
Zhang Ruifeng said, "My boss said that learning never ends and that we should keep learning throughout our lives. It was only after I got my job that I realized my shortcomings. To do my job well, I need to acquire more knowledge and culture."
My daughter also told me that one only regrets not having enough knowledge when it is needed. If a person does not read and has no education, she will have fewer opportunities than others. Sometimes, even if an opportunity comes to her, she will not be able to seize it.
For example, if a factory is hiring and needs to assess you, and you're uneducated and illiterate, can you pass the assessment? Given a choice between an educated and an uneducated person, the factory will definitely choose the educated one.
Therefore, even though I already have a job, I still need to constantly strive for progress. The Yangtze River's waves behind push forward the waves ahead. If I don't learn and make progress, I may be replaced by those who come after me.
Since Liushu Village has given me this opportunity, I must seize it."
Zhang Ruifeng had attended literacy classes before and could recognize most characters. When she had nothing to do at the grain store, she would read newspapers, and her thinking and language skills had improved significantly.
Yan Guixiang clapped her hands. "Comrade Zhang Ruifeng said it so well! Each of us must have this kind of ideological awareness. Keep learning and constantly improve yourself. When you understand more knowledge and principles, you will have more ideas and your perspective will be greatly different."
Someone else raised their hand and asked, "I've already graduated from elementary school, and I want to get a junior high school diploma. Does our night school offer junior high school classes?"
Zhang Guangzong said, "Once our night school students have received their first batch of primary school diplomas, we will open junior high school classes."
Their brigade can even run a junior high school, so what's wrong with setting up a junior high school class?
Just like that, the Liushutun Brigade Night School officially opened!
Sun Liwei and Sun Xiuwei were excited about this. Having gone to the countryside, besides doing farm work, they finally had something to do that matched their "intellectual" status. They were delighted, feeling that this work further demonstrated their value, and even though they still had to work in the fields during the day, they were happy.
If there are no suitable teaching materials, we use newspapers instead. Every day, we select an article from the newspaper, whether it is about national policies or outstanding deeds, and lead everyone to recognize, read, write and analyze it. This not only teaches everyone to recognize words, but also allows everyone to understand the outside world.
Xie Yun gave Zhang Guangzong another suggestion: "We only have two teachers in the night school now, you can also hire external help."
"How? Who?"
"There are so many people. Our commune has a livestock and veterinary station, an agricultural machinery station, and many other institutions like this. You can invite those specialized technical personnel to teach everyone, share their professional knowledge, and teach us how to farm and raise livestock scientifically. Once all the professionals from the commune have come, you can go to the county and invite people. Whatever everyone wants to learn, you can invite the specialized personnel to teach everyone. Workers and peasants are one family. We are poor and lower-middle peasants. We want to learn and make progress. Shouldn't the government and various units support us? If they don't come, they're looking down on us!"
Zhang Guangzong swallowed and smiled cunningly.
Xie Yun added, "We can make this night school more formal. Why don't you apply directly to the commune and establish it as a formal school, a school for poor and lower-middle peasants? You're exploring an educational model that suits social realities. It's a great experiment, and perhaps higher-ups will give you some support. I'll write an article promoting you. Just think about it, you're such an advanced model, you'll be invited to give a report at the county level by the end of the year."
Zhang Guangzong: “…”
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