Teacher Yu Su-hua opens children’s moral character class

Yu Shu-hua, commonly known as ‘a bunch of flowers’ by her students, teaches at a children’s community classroom in Sanchong District, New Taipei City. The study group, which puts great emphasis on moral character, often recites works from the classical Chinese poetry collection, the Book of Songs (詩經). Formerly a junior high school Mathematics teacher, Yu Shu-hua used to only focus on achieving high grades and never once contemplated trying to understand the minds of children. It was not until one day, when a particular student’s situation made teacher Yu feel ashamed, did she begin to contemplate what more could be done for the children.

In order to provide after-school tutoring to children in need, after deciding on the objective of directing her teaching towards moral education, teacher Yu utilized her own salary and took a loan to rent an apartment. Over the years, teacher Yu has not only been falsely accused of illegally operating a cram school, she has even faced criticism from local residents because of teaching ‘problem’ children from other neighborhoods. However, regardless of these difficulties, she has never once given up, and has one-by-one overcome all the challenges that have been thrown at her.

After community residents witnessed the gradual improvement of so-called ‘problem children’ in the area, the wave of local opinion changed and locals began to support the initiative. Teacher Yu has been running her study class for over 18 years, and has had the pleasure of observing children passing through her classes and return to provide assistance with the younger children, while on the verge of graduating from university. In the eyes of teacher Yu, the greatest pleasure is to see children mature and blossom. 

Teacher Yu Su-hua opens children’s moral character class

URL:https://www.peopo.org/news/242083

(以下是中文對照)

余素華老師開課教孩子品德

在新北市三重的一間社區教室裡，學童正在朗誦詩經，這裡強調品德教育，核心人物是學童暱稱「一束花」老師的余素華。余素華在國中擔任數學老師，過去也曾只追求分數，鮮少走進孩子心靈，直到學生遇到狀況讓她感到慚愧，開始思索究竟能帶給孩子什麼？確定要走品格教育方向與目標後，她投入自身薪水，還貸款租房子，為需要幫助的學子進行課後輔導。過程中曾被質疑違法開設補習班，而帶領關懷戶小孩進駐社區，也曾經帶來衝突，但她卻不放棄、一一克服。社區居民發現過去的「問題學生」一點一滴進步之後，也慢慢轉為支持的態度。余素華老師辦學18年，也有大學快畢業的孩子回來幫助小朋友，在她的眼中看見孩子的成長，就是最大的收穫。