In her classroom, there is no school bell and no tuition fee. What Son gives her students goes beyond knowledge: it is care, encouragement, and a chance to move toward a better future.
Rooted in compassion
At 7:00 a.m., the blackboard in Vo Thi Son’s house had already been wiped clean and the desks neatly arranged. The cheerful voices of children calling from the doorway were met, as always, with her gentle smile and warm invitation to come inside. Over the years, those sounds have become familiar to generations of students.
Approaching her eighties, Son still speaks clearly when standing before the class, her eyes reflecting an unwavering belief in the children she teaches.
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Teacher Vo Thi Son provides free literacy lessons to children in O Mon ward, Can Tho city. |
Her students are at different levels. Some can already read, some are just learning to write, while others have yet to master the alphabet. Son never rushes them. She patiently guides each child through spelling, helps them remember the shape of every letter, and explains a lesson again and again until they understand.
The special classroom has no school bell, uniforms, or signboard, and students pay no tuition. Classes are held from Monday through Friday, from 7:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. There are usually between 20 and 25 students during the school year, with the number nearly doubling during the summer.
Most are primary-school-age children from difficult backgrounds. Some come from poor families, some learn more slowly than their peers, some have had their schooling interrupted, while others struggle to adapt to formal educational settings.
To keep the class running, Son uses part of her pension to buy books and school supplies. When parents are busy earning a living and cannot pick up their children on time, she continues looking after and teaching them until the last child goes home.
Son’s journey with chalk and blackboards began after 1975, when she was assigned to teach mass literacy classes. She taught schoolchildren during the day and adults at night as part of literacy eradication efforts.
Seeing that many poor children could not attend school regularly because their parents were struggling to make ends meet, she began tutoring them after hours. What started with only a handful of students gradually grew into a familiar free classroom for families in the area.
After retiring in 2008, Son did not leave teaching behind. Instead, she devoted more of her time to teaching children at home.
She said her compassion for poor children who wanted to learn but faced severe financial hardship led her to turn her own house into a multi-grade classroom. For families whose parents spend long hours working or trading, she sometimes looks after the children for the whole day, taking care of their meals and sleep, washing their clothes, and helping them with their lessons.
Teaching literacy, passing on kindness
Among Son’s students are children facing particularly difficult circumstances.
Nguyen Huynh Nhu, for example, used to accompany her parents to sell vegetables at Binh Thuy Market from midnight and could only be brought to class at 5:00 a.m. Concerned about the child’s hardship, Son suggested that Nhu stay at her home during the week to make studying easier.
Nhu said Son’s lessons were easy to understand and that she felt happy in the class, adding that staying at her teacher’s house had become a natural part of her schooling. For Nhu’s parents, the meals, a place to sleep, and the extra tutoring Son provided were invaluable support that gave their daughter greater opportunities for the future.
Tuyet Phuong’s story was different. She had been out of school for four years because of the fear of attending classes.
Her mother, Le Thi Hiep, said the family had reached an impasse before teacher Nguyen Thi Oanh, former Principal of Nguyen Du Primary School and now working at its Hoa An branch, introduced them to Son’s class.
Without putting pressure on Phuong, Son slowly helped her become comfortable with books again, patiently waiting for every response. Over time, Phuong overcame her fear and returned to learning with greater confidence and happiness.
Son’s lessons are not limited to reading, writing, and mathematics. She also places strong emphasis on manners and character, teaching children to greet their elders politely, care for others, and be honest.
Tran Gia Bao said all of his older siblings had studied with Son. In her class, he learns not only how to write and solve math problems but also how to behave properly. Good handwriting goes hand in hand with proper greetings, while correct answers are accompanied by lessons on becoming a good person.
Over time, the classroom has become a trusted place for several generations of local families.
Le Anh Loan of O Mon ward said that from her parents’ generation to her grandchild’s, members of her family have all received free lessons from Son. The small room with its blackboard and chalk has become part of the memories of countless disadvantaged students.
Keeping the journey alive
More than half a century has passed, and many of Son’s former students have grown up, built careers, and started families of their own. Some return to visit their former teacher and contribute desks, books, and other supplies to the classroom.
Son said her greatest happiness, and her only wish, is to see her students grow into good people and succeed in life.
Her dedication is also being carried forward by her daughter, Luong Tu Anh, a teacher at Phuoc Thoi Secondary School. For years, Tu Anh has helped her mother maintain the free class. During summer vacations, she spends time correcting students’ handwriting, tutoring those who struggle with their studies, and sharing the workload with her mother.
Having grown up surrounded by her mother’s devotion to disadvantaged children, Tu Anh is now helping keep the classroom open and carrying that passion for teaching into the next generation.
Despite her age, Son has said she will continue teaching for as long as possible.
That simple commitment sums up a journey of more than half a century devoted to disadvantaged children. Her steps may have slowed, but opening the door each morning, picking up a piece of chalk, and helping poor children learn to read and write remains the greatest joy in teacher Son’s life.
Translated by Minh Anh