“Other teachers can train many students to become doctors, engineers; however, we as teachers of the Tuong Lai (Future) Special School just want a few of our pupils to be mature, or simply know how to take good care of themselves", as shared by music teacher Le Quang Hai.

Teacher Le Quang Hai is seen teaching his pupils in a music lesson. Photos taken before this COVID-19 resurgence

Was about to quit job due to heavy pressure

Having graduated from Hue College of Music Education in 2010, Le Quang Hai from Phu Vang District, Thua Thien Hue Province spent three years working in different jobs from the Central to the South of Viet Nam, and then finally decided to settle down in Da Nang and bond with the Tuong Lai (future) Special School as a music teacher as his long-cherished dream.

When becoming a teacher of children with intellectual disabilities in 2013, Mr Hai was a bit confused owing to the fact that he had never imagined facing these "special" students. He was fairly shocked since many children also had negative expressions such as throwing school tools, tearing their shirts, banging their heads against the wall, biting friends, even going to the bathroom right in class, in addition to the unusual temperament.

Moreover, some of their parents often speak harshly to teachers if their children have problems in the classroom while some sympathize and share with teachers. At that time, Hai- the young unmarried man- could not stand it and intended to quit the job.

However, thanks to his mother's advice as well as self-reflection, he began to learn from his colleagues, learn to listen to children, attend more training classes for teachers of special schools and learn from the simplest things such as seeing off pupils every day after school to remember their faces and know their parents’ name.

Always accompany disadvantaged children on their difficult journeys…

For more than 9 years working at the school, big love from many parents and pupils has motivated Mr Hai to continue his mission as a companion of disabled children. A simple shirt from the mother of a 15-year-old boy on a cold winter day or a few flower branches and a pack of MSG on Vietnamese Teachers' Day is enough to touch a teacher's heart and encourage him to have more effort to teach and share with his special students.

Apart from the fixed music program of the Institute of Educational Sciences, the school's program is built according to the demands of pupils and is suitable for disabled ones. Mr Hai has also flexibly adjusted a few things to attract them in music classes such as buying plastic containers and plastic straws to make musical instruments or attaching symbolic colours on the keys of the piano.

Mr Hai wishes to ease the pain in the hearts of less fortunate children via music; help them relieve stress and frustration in their hearts in order to feel at ease in their minds, then do physical activities to restore their body functions and increase self-care ability.

As shared by him, at the Tuong Lai Special School, young teachers are all inspired by previous generations of teachers with the motto “ Teachers are not only in charge of teaching but also being nannies, nurses, and fathers or mother and even pupils’ friends. He also affirm that he will try his utmost to work with other school teachers to accompany the children on their difficult journey ahead.

Reporting by NGOC HA- Translating by T.VY