Teaching with all your heart
When mentioning Mr. Nguyen Van Hot, a former teacher at Quoc Thai High School (Nhon Hoi Commune, An Giang Province), many generations of students in the border area of Cambodia have paid special respect to him.
More than 35 years ago, when the road to school was still a muddy road, the image of a teacher tirelessly teaching and learning as a human has been deeply imprinted in the memories of many classes of students. For Mr. Hot, teaching is not only about imparting knowledge but also sowing in the hearts of students the love of homeland, self-respect and aspiration to rise up. Thanks to those lessons, many of his students have now become cadres, teachers, journalists, police, doctors, ... who are continuing the spirit of dedication in the border area.
Mr. Nguyen Van Khai, a teacher at Quoc Thai High School, recalled: "When I was a student, Mr. Hot was very strict. Just a small mistake made us think all the time. But it was that strictness that taught me the first lesson about the responsibility of the class monitor. Teachers have said that teachers are not allowed to be lenient with themselves because just a superficial lesson is enough to make students lose confidence. For many years, I have kept that saying with me as a reminder".
Mr. Hot said that in the years he was still teaching, students in the border area still had many difficulties and shortages. Therefore, in addition to teaching, he always reminds them to love labor and appreciate the value of rice grains, potatoes, and the fruits of sweat and effort of their parents.
"Teaching is not enough, we have to teach them to be human. My blackboard has worn down many times, and I don't know how many boxes of white powder are gone, but the most precious thing is to see my students grow up, become useful people for society," Mr. Hot emotionally shared.
Retired but not yet retired
In 2019, after nearly 40 years of working at the border school, Mr. Nguyen Van Hot retired under the regime. But for teachers who retire, it is just leaving the podium and not stopping worrying about the profession. Every week, he still visits the old school to visit young colleagues, asking about teaching and students. Although he is no longer teaching, the lesson of compassion, dedication and perseverance of the teacher is still considered by generations of teachers here as a guiding principle in the profession.
Mr. Phan Quoc Huy, a teacher at Quoc Thai High School, shared: "We still tell each other that if we keep the spirit of being devoted to students, loving the profession and loving people like Mr. Hot, the flame of education in this border area will never go out".
Mr. Nguyen Van Khai confided: "Just seeing Mr. Hot appear, listening to him say a few sentences gives us more confidence to continue teaching. His simplicity and enthusiasm are a great source of encouragement for us".
Now, the border area of An Giang has changed a lot. Quoc Thai High School is more spacious, the road to school is paved with asphalt, and lighting reaches each hamlet.
Every time he visits the school, seeing the students whispering to him, Mr. Hot's eyes glow with unforgettable joy. "I just hope that when they grow up, they will know how to live a decent life, return to help their hometown and become useful people for society. That is enough for a lifetime of teaching," said Mr. Nguyen Van Hot.
