Teachers do not accept flowers or gifts on November 20, but do useful work.
On the occasion of the 42nd anniversary of Vietnamese Teachers' Day (November 20, 1982 - November 20, 2024), the principal of Phan Van Tri Primary School, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City wrote an open letter asking not to accept flowers and gifts on November 20, but instead to give notebooks, milk... to students.
The reason given by the principal was that the flowers given every year on this occasion could only be used for a few days and had to be thrown away, which was a waste. Therefore, he wrote a letter refusing to accept the flowers and gifts and wished to replace them with notebooks, milk, equipment and supplies to reward the students.
Not only this year, but for many years, the city's Department of Education and Training has issued a document not accepting flowers, gifts, or receiving guests, but instead expecting to receive electronic greeting cards on the occasion of November 20.
The above information has received positive responses from many teachers and parents, who believe that this is in accordance with the direction of the Party and State's Directives and Resolutions on practicing thrift and combating waste.
In particular, saving unnecessary celebration expenses will be the most meaningful gift for the staff, experts and employees of the department in the spirit of friendliness, thrift, civilization and efficiency.
The best gift for teachers
Every November 20th, Ms. Do Thi Hoi - a teacher at Lac Hoa 1 Primary School, Soc Trang, receives many meaningful gifts from her students. The school where she works still has many difficulties, many students are ethnic minorities, or have families with difficult circumstances. Therefore, the gifts her students give her are not of material value, but are priceless to her.
"The students are very cute. Some of them made flowers out of tissue paper, wrapped them up and gave them to me. Many of them saw their friends giving to me but they had nothing, so they used the 5,000 VND they had saved to buy a small box of milk to give to me" - Ms. Hoi emotionally shared and said that this was a special feeling that her students had for her.
As for Ms. Luu Thi Chinh Phuong - Vice Principal of Doan Ket Primary School (Long Bien, Hanoi), the best gift every November 20th is witnessing the maturity of her students, being remembered and thanked by many generations of former students.
November 20th has gone down in Vietnamese history as the day when the whole society pays tribute to and honors the teaching profession and those who care for the cause of education and training. The love of learning and respect for teachers are also the basic morals of the Vietnamese people.
Every teacher comes to the teaching profession from the love for students, the love for the profession. Therefore, not fussy, materialistic, or noble, the spiritual gift, the love of students is the most wonderful gift that every teacher receives on the Vietnamese Teachers' Day this year.
