The opening day marks the beginning of a new stage in a child's learning journey, the subject of the opening day must be the student.
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| Students of Ho Bon Primary and Secondary Boarding School for Ethnic Minorities (Mu Cang Chai District) at the opening ceremony of the new school year. (Source: VNA) |
Remembering the first day of school for my generation, it was the first day back to school after three months of summer vacation. After three months away from school, friends, and teachers, the opening ceremony was the first day we met again to start the new school year, making everyone excited and busy. Each child carefully wrapped and labeled their books and notebooks, and their parents prepared beautiful clothes for the first day of school.
At that time, the opening ceremony was short, simple but still solemn. All students sang the National Anthem and clapped their hands happily at the end. There was only a short speech like the principal’s confidences and instructions and the sound of the school drum signaling the start of the new school year. After that, students returned to their classrooms to meet their teachers and begin their studies for the new school year.
For me, the opening ceremony was truly a festival for students, where everyone felt welcomed back to a new school year with meaningful moments with friends and teachers.
The opening ceremony is now more grandiose, resplendent with flags and flowers. The speeches in the opening ceremony are more of a report, a representation for parents, for leaders attending, for the school's reputation rather than an activity for students - the main subject. The opening ceremony is not simply the first day to welcome students back to school as it is inherently, but rather a communication event, building and affirming the school's brand, attracting the attention of the community.
The question is, are we really focusing on the whole learner? Are we paying attention to the rights and needs of the child, putting the learner's need to be connected, to be respected, to express themselves at the center of the ceremony?
The opening day marks the beginning of a new stage in the children's learning journey, the subject of the opening day must be the students. The important thing is how to make the opening day truly touch each child. In my opinion, to build a truly happy opening day, the principal must dare to accept differences, dare to change the inherent beliefs about the opening day. Each teacher needs to be creative to express and spread love to the students.
Instead of long, formulaic speeches, there will be inspirational stories from famous guests. After the short and exciting ceremony, there will be a festival where children can participate in fun activities in the school yard.
International experience shows that events are organized as open communication spaces, with the stage close and not distant from the people below to create a sense of connection and friendliness.
It can be said that the goal of a school when it is born is to meet the learning needs, personality development and happiness needs of the learners, not to be built to meet the requirements of enrollment and finance. The key is to make the students feel that they are truly the center of the ceremony and feel loved and respected when entering the new school year.
* Head of Faculty of Educational Sciences, University of Education, Vietnam National University, Hanoi.
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