More than half a century of memory
—Remember my elementary school Chinese teacher Wang Junling
I went to elementary school in the autumn of 1965 in this village (Nanxi, Gaocheng County, Hebei Province). Teacher Wang Junling taught us Chinese and served as the head teacher. At that time, she was about 20 years old, young, energetic, gentle and kind, and always smiled. In Chinese class, she not only teaches us pinyin, literacy, reading aloud, and comprehension, but also arranges and guides us to read extracurricularly. Every afternoon during extracurricular activities, she would bring many comic strips to the classroom, and the students picked up a book to read it. Although there were many words that they didn’t recognize, everyone still read it with relish. I remember reading at that time the stories of the young hero Liu Wenxue, Zhang Gaoqian and others, as well as some fairy tales. These albums are full of pictures and texts, which are very attractive to us in childhood.
One thing I remember most deeply and cannot forget yet is that when I was in the second grade, Teacher Wang picked up a thick red cover book in a Chinese class and said to us: In the future, every time we go to Chinese class, we will take some time to read a novel for everyone, called "Song of Ouyang Hai", which is a book that records the growth experience of the hero Ouyang Hai. Do you think it's okay? At that time, we had already heard Ouyang Hai's name, but we didn't know his deeds yet, so we said yes in unison.
Since then, Teacher Wang has continuously read this red novel that was popular all over the country at that time. When reading Ouyang Hai's miserable childhood, especially when he was attacked by a dog while leading his younger brother to beg for food, Teacher Wang's expression was solemn, and the classmates frowned; when reading Ouyang Hai joined the army after growing up, bravely dedicating and helping others, and rescued the people who fell into the water many times, Teacher Wang's tone was high, and the students were energetic and motivated; when reading Ouyang Hai's lively and naughty plot, teachers and students looked at each other and smiled; when reading the end of the novel, when Ouyang Hai sacrificed heroically to save the passengers, Teacher Wang was already full of tears, and the classmates were all in a heavy mood, tears flowed under the flow, and the girls could not help sobbing in a low voice. Every time we read, our young minds will be deeply shocked. After reading the novel, the students were infected by the heroic spirit to varying degrees, and changes were happening quietly.
Teacher Wang sets an example and plays an example: in winter, we produce stoves to increase room temperature, in summer, we often sprinkle water in the classroom to reduce room temperature; in rainy days, we often clear waterways to remove water from school, and in snowy days, we often clean up the snow in school to facilitate teachers and students; in lectures, we devote ourselves meticulously and fully, and often visit home after school to deeply understand the truth of each student... Inspired by the spirit of heroes, under the influence of Teacher Wang's words and deeds, the atmosphere of learning heroes to do good deeds quietly formed. I remember that after school, we often helped the family members of the martyrs and the elderly who were lonely and widowed to work. Later, helping others gradually became a living habit. When talking about this matter many years later, many elementary school students still remember it freshly.
Before and after this big reading, Teacher Wang also told us the stories of heroes such as Lei Feng, Wang Jie, Mai Xiande, and Liu Yingjun and in class, sowing a seed of truth, goodness and beauty in our young hearts. Especially myself, in the process of listening and reading hero stories, my heart was influenced and gradually formed a hero worship complex, and developed a good mentality of pursuing ideals, not fearing difficulties, and being positive. Later I gradually realized that in that special era, Teacher Wang did his best to reduce the interference of external situations on the classroom, creating a relatively normal small world for us to grow. She combines intellectual education with moral education, integrating Chinese language education and moral education. It not only teaches knowledge, but also teaches people to be a human being. In the era of material poverty and turbulentness, it has provided us with relatively abundant spiritual nutrition, which is very beneficial to our growth.
Teacher Wang taught Chinese knowledge in primary school and paid attention to the reading of extracurricular books. This educational method has had a profound impact on my future growth in two aspects, and it can also be said to have benefited for life. First, the infection and cultivation of spiritual virtues. The virtues of heroes are like spring breeze and rain, moistening things silently, and unknowingly shaped human souls.In the future, my ideals are immortal, my heart is ambitious, and my actions are powerful. No matter where I go, I will always be positive and not afraid of difficulties and move forward. Second, we have developed the ambition to love reading and think diligently. In that era of poor culture, I was not influenced by the theory of uselessness of reading, and my interest in reading became stronger.
When I was in middle school, "Quotes from Chairman Mao" and "Selected Works of Mao Zedong" were essential books at hand, and I also read all the books in the school library. These books were allowed to be read at that time, such as "Sunny Sky", "Golden Avenue", "Holy Militia of the Island ", "Tongbai Heroes", etc. I also tried every means to find books collected by the people, which were criticized as "poisonous weeds" and "yellow novels" at that time, such as "Red Flag Score", "Fire Gold Steel", "Wild Fire Spring Breeze Fighting the Ancient City", "Bitten Vegetable Flowers", etc., read and copied hungrily, and even secretly read the handwritten manuscripts "Ye Fei Three Goes to Jiangnan" and "Second Handshake" at the time. After graduating from high school, I returned to my hometown to work as a farmer. I have always maintained the good habit of looking for books everywhere and studying diligently. I even had to pick up and take a look at any piece of paper with words.
In elementary school, Teacher Wang sowed a seed of love for reading for me. Once this seed germinates, it breaks through various obstacles and stubbornly breaks through the soil and grows. When I arrived in middle school, I greedily read all the books I could find, whether they were "scented flowers" or "poisonous weeds". A lot of reading has broadened my horizons and improved my Chinese language skills. From elementary school to high school, Chinese has always been my strength. In 1978, after the resumption of the college entrance examination, I was admitted to the Chinese Department of Hebei Normal University. After graduation, I have been engaged in literary education in colleges and universities and trained thousands of students, which can be said to be full of students.
I always have a grateful heart and never forget Teacher Wang's good enlightenment and teachings. Until I graduated from college, I often take time to visit her. After graduating from college, I was assigned to work in another place, and she was also transferred to Shijiazhuang. In addition, the heavy workload and the pressure of family life, I gradually lost contact with her, but I was always concerned in my heart and never forgotten it. After retirement, I had free time and missed Teacher Wang more and more. Although more than 50 years have passed in primary school, the country has undergone earth-shaking changes, and my personal fate has also fluctuated and volatile. My work and living place is getting farther and farther away from my hometown, time and space cannot fade away the feelings of longing. Teacher Wang's voice, appearance, smile and style when she teaches and reads are still so clear. The past is like a movie shot and never disperses for a long time. When you are old and forgetful, your teacher’s kindness will never be forgotten; when things change in the world, your original intention will not change. After half of my life, I understand better that the most precious thing in life is emotions. Human emotions are rich and complex, and the relationship between teachers and students is the purest and noblest part of it.
Dear Teacher Wang, how are you doing? Your students wish you good health and longevity, and hope that you can visit you as soon as possible after the epidemic stabilizes, so as to realize your wish that has not been fulfilled in decades.
When Teacher's Day 2022 approaches, I will write this article to miss my primary school teachers and dedicate it to all the teachers in the country who work hard to cultivate students.
Author: Wang Zengxue, retired professor of Xuzhou Engineering College
2022 Teacher's Day and Mid-Autumn Festival
