Chen Yu and Wang Qiang were inspecting the roof. They climbed a slightly wobbly wooden ladder to reach the roof. Many of the roof tiles were broken, and in some places, there were even holes. Looking at the holes, Chen Yu said worriedly, "This roof needs to be repaired quickly, otherwise the classroom will flood when it rains. Repairing the roof will require a lot of tiles; we need to figure out where to find them." Wang Qiang nodded in agreement, "Yes, and these wooden beams also show signs of insect damage in some places; they need to be replaced." They inspected and discussed the roof, the sunlight shining on them and revealing fine beads of sweat on their foreheads.
Zhang Feng was measuring the area of the small courtyard, recording the data in his notebook as he held up the measuring tape. He looked up at the few thin trees in the yard and thought, "These trees can be kept; they can provide a shady place for the children to rest and play. But the ground in the yard needs to be leveled again, paved with flagstones or bricks, so the children won't get their feet covered in mud on rainy days." His eyes revealed the focus of a planner; despite the harsh conditions, he was already sketching out a new blueprint for the future school.
Li Jing and several other female educated youths were cleaning out the old textbooks and miscellaneous items in the classroom. They sorted out what was usable and set aside what wasn't. Li Jing picked up a tattered textbook, flipping through the blurry pages, and felt a pang of sadness: "These textbooks are too old, and the content is very limited. We must prepare new textbooks for the children as soon as possible." She put the textbook aside and continued sorting, her eyes shining with determination. She knew this was a crucial step in changing the children's educational situation.
During the inspection, they also discovered other problems. For example, the classrooms were poorly ventilated, making the air stuffy, which was detrimental to the children's health; there was no heating in the classrooms, leaving the children to endure the cold in winter. These problems weighed heavily on everyone's minds, but also strengthened their resolve to change the school's situation.
Lin Yue gathered everyone together to summarize the situation. Looking at their tired yet determined faces, a warm feeling welled up inside her: "You've all worked hard. Let's now review the problems we've identified. First, most of the desks and chairs in the classroom need to be replaced, which requires a lot of timber and labor. The roof and walls also need repair; tiles, timber, and lime are essential. The courtyard grounds need to be refurbished, and the textbooks need to be updated. There are also ventilation and heating issues; we need to find solutions for all of these." As she spoke, she drew simple diagrams on her notebook, showing everyone the key points of each problem.
Looking at the diagram, Zhang Feng offered his ideas: "We can start with the easier problems, such as cleaning the classrooms and yard. Then we can gradually address the issues of desks, chairs, and building structure. For updating the teaching materials, we can contact the educated youth settlement and other schools to see if we can get some support." His suggestion was met with approval, and everyone nodded in agreement.
Chen Yu continued, "Regarding the timber issue, we can see if there's any spare timber in the village, or we can discuss with nearby villages to see if we can buy some. As for tiles, perhaps we can ask at the kilns in town." His eyes revealed a determination to find a solution; he knew that acquiring these resources wouldn't be easy, but they had to try.
Li Jing also spoke up, saying, "We can organize the women in the village to help clean the classrooms and make some simple teaching aids. The children can also participate and contribute to their school." Her idea was a revelation; this approach of involving everyone would not only speed up the process but also enhance the villagers' sense of belonging to the education reform.
Just as everyone was engaged in a lively discussion, the school's old principal walked in. His hair was gray, his back slightly hunched, but his eyes were still bright. Looking at these young people busy with the school's affairs, he was deeply moved: "Children, you've worked so hard. I've taught at this school my whole life, and seeing it gradually fall into disrepair has been painful for me. Now that you're here, I see hope." The old principal's voice choked with emotion, and he wiped away tears from the corners of his eyes with trembling hands.
Lin Yue walked to the old principal and took his hand. "Principal, don't worry. We will definitely revitalize the school. We have many ideas and hope you can give us some advice." Her eyes were full of respect for the old principal.
The old principal looked at Lin Yue and nodded: "You are all good children. The most important thing for a school is to have a good atmosphere. You not only need to improve the facilities, but also focus on cultivating the children's interest in learning. When I taught here, the conditions were tough, but the children loved learning because they knew that knowledge could change their destiny. You must pass on this belief to them." The old principal's words made everyone think deeply. They realized that educational reform was not just about material improvement, but also about the inheritance of spirit.
In the days that followed, Lin Yue and the other educated youth began to act on the results of their discussions. They divided into several groups; some went to find resources, some organized villagers to clean the classrooms, and others began preparing to compile and collect teaching materials. Every day was filled with busyness and challenges, but their eyes always shone with hope. They knew it was a race against time and difficulties, but for the future of the children, they were willing to give everything.
Lin Yue and Chen Yu encountered many difficulties in their search for resources. They went to nearby villages to inquire about timber conditions; some villages were also short of timber themselves, while others were unwilling to sell. They visited village after village, their feet blistered, but they still did not give up.
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