The Race to Every Famous After-school Teacher

Today, in this blog post, I would like to talk to you about a memory of my time in school in Vietnam; unfortunately, it is not a good memory. I understand that telling this negative story will not make your school year more joyful, and more fun. But it is necessary and important to tell because I want to speak on behalf of all those students who have been in that class and what they have been through, well, nobody else will know except themselves. Of course, this story only happens in Vietnam. Not in America. I know that every teacher here is very enthusiastic and caring for their students no matter what. They treat everyone equally and they will not let any students be left behind. That’s why I love education in America. 

Last week, I was on Facebook and I saw the photos of a teacher that I used to be in her after-school class from 2012 to 2014. Until right now, I think my mom told me to quit her class, which probably, was one of her best decisions ever. I quit her class, not because I hated her or because she did something bad to me. It was just because my mom believed that that teacher is such a bad influence on me and maybe on other students too. 

One undeniable thing that I have seen in her which made her famous in the city is her professional ways of teaching, her knowledge, and her impact on students. I am talking about excellent here or we call “Straight-A students” here. 

When I was in her class, I was just a normal student who has little knowledge of that subject because around me, there was a sea of “straight-A students” in that subject. But not everyone in that class was a good student. Many of them were not good at that subject and they came to her class with the hope to be better in that subject. But was it worked? The answer is NO. 

Then, I asked myself a question. Why did their parents send them to her after-school class even though they knew in the first place that she is very difficult and the students in her class were superb? There are still other classes with lower levels or basic levels which can help them to improve? I have found the answer to this difficult question. 

It’s simple. 

Because that teacher is famous and her reputation has covered the whole city. She can be compared to a very famous idol. Every person knows her and what she has done. In the mind of every parent, there is an ideology like this. In the city, if there are famous teachers who are in charge of important subjects that are for testing and national exam, by any chance, by any price, by any connection, parents will send their children to those classes with a high hope their children can do good. 

So how can we determine who is a famous teacher? 

First, that teacher has many students who got into the best universities or the best high schools with the highest exam scores. 

Second, those students would tell everyone about that teacher and with the help of their parents, the reputation of that teacher will be spread out.

Third, that teacher must be from a famous school in the city with a professional experience in teaching and that teacher has received Ph.D., MD, or any high degree (but this is not a requirement).

Three of those elements combined have created a famous teacher who should be compared to an idol. Parents would not even mind taking their children to those teachers even if their house is far away, or paying those teachers a mountain of money each month because they have a strong belief their children would be better at studying and passing any exams.

I would like to take a moment to laugh out loud. That shows one thing and I am sorry for saying, parents don’t understand their children at all. Funny how they simply think that sending their children to those teachers will automatically be good. It is wrong. Of course, every parent always wants the best for their children. No doubt. But they should understand the academic ability of their children first, then, they can determine what is best for them. It is not because they are famous teachers with a professional way of teaching and a bunch of good students, parents make them go to those classes. It depends on how that student receives those lectures. Each person has a different ability. No one should put an individual into a shape and then make them look like other shapes. 

I used to be in those after-school classes of many famous teachers in the city and I understand the feeling of all students. It is super tiring. You study at school from 7 a.m to 11:30 a.m. Then, you have lunch and move to the first after-school class which is by the in-class teacher. After that, they have a little snack and move straight to after-school classes with famous teachers, normally from 5:30 p.m to 9 p.m. They don’t even have time to have dinner, rest, and have fun. After a long day, it is not the time to be yourself. It is time for homework. Their day normally ends after midnight it repeats on the next day. It is like a circle. 

Return to that teacher who I have mentioned like I said I admired her teaching style and her academic knowledge. In my opinion, a teacher, besides the teaching experience, must have professional ethics of a teacher and that teacher doesn’t have one. That teacher only knows how to yell at students, and insult them with so many unacceptable words. I have witnessed that teacher getting angry, no, getting crazy in my class. Not only with one student but a group of students. She looked like an evil monster behind the cover of a nice teacher. I feared her at that time and I asked myself when it would be my turn. But when I reflected, I asked myself what those students were feeling at that time. I bet that they must be hurt so much. Parents, if they were there, must have been so angry and so pressing when our children are being insulted. It is not that teacher’s turn to teach those students to behave or what to do. It is the duty of every parent. Where did she get the right to do it on behalf of the parent?

A fun story. My cousin used to be in that class. One day she came home and told her mother that the teacher said bad things about her and yelled at her in front of the class. Oh boy, that teacher had touched the wrong person. My aunt is not an easy person. She is a straight person. She doesn’t mind anyone. If she is angry or unsatisfied or somebody touches her family, she will make a big scene in front of them. And because she is like that, she is my favorite aunt in the family. After hearing what her daughter said, my aunt immediately drove to that teacher’s house and taught her a lesson. There were other people in the room at that moment. My aunt pointed directly to that teacher’s face and said. “Hey, you don’t have enough ability to teach my daughter or other students. You don’t have any right to talk to my daughter like that.” Oh my God, that teacher must have been so embarrassed. I heard that teacher say to my aunt that there was nothing and told her to bring my cousin back to her class. But my aunt said no way. I felt satisfied at that time and I have more respect for my aunt. At least, there was a person who would stand up against her. Because of that, my mom asked me whether what my aunt said was true or not. I barely said anything in that class to my mom. I didn’t know why I didn’t say it at that time. I said yes and my mom decided to let me quit that teacher. She knew soon or late, I would be the next victim. And from that year, I haven’t heard anything about that teacher. 

Now, after so many years, I suddenly heard about her again through my other aunt who is a teacher, and her colleague. It happened in a class at school. Because of some reason, a student was upsetting that teacher and she yelled at that student in front of the class by using harsh words and insulting sentences. But here is what I was pissed about. That teacher is teaching high school for gifted students. Eventually, if you want to get into that school, you have to take a test and pass the exam. Nobody knew what happened. My aunt was teaching in the next class and she heard the noise from that teacher’s class. She said this to that student. “You study like nothing, you got into this school because you’re lucky, you have a connection.” And many other worse things. 

According to what I know about that student because she is my cousin’s friend, she is very good at studying and her academic ability is like other students in that high school. Why didn’t that teacher think she got into that high school because she is good?

Many parents know what kind of person that teacher is. But they still send their children to her classes. I don’t get it. Why do they want to see their children being yelled at or insulted by her? Is it just because she has the best teaching ability? That is so unfair. And yet, nobody says anything. They know but they don’t care. Sometimes I was on Facebook and saw some photos of her being tagged by other students who are on my friend list. They wrote many captions praising her, proud to be her students, loving her with all of their hearts, and blah blah. Oh, come on! I get it. You are the best student, you brought her many prizes or achievements, you put her up, and your parents created a good connection with her. With all of those, there is no reason for her to yell at you guys. 

But for a second, think about other students who are not good as you guys in the same class, to have her attention, her satisfaction, her nice words, they have to try hard, and sometimes, it never works. It is a mirage that is not real. 

It is a sad reality in the Vietnamese education system and I think it is like a circle without a way out. That teacher is just an example of other teachers who has the same bad behavior toward students. Once the teachers got the benefits from students, those students will be those teachers’ favorite children. No, I want to say gooses with golden eggs. Reputation, awards, recognitions, and money are the things that those teachers get. In their mind, just focus on good students who give them benefits, and other students, well, ignore them. Also, there are many teachers who because of money and reputation have lost themselves by changing the exam scores or opening opportunities for students to cheat. In the end, they ended up in jail with a long sentence.

How will the poor students, not yet good, and desperately want to be like other students, be in a toxic environment like that? Will they have any future? 

In Vietnam, there is a saying. Hiền tài là nguyên khí quốc gia, which means talent and morality are the core of the nation. Unfortunately, that saying is no longer correct in today’s society. They should fix it like this. Money and connection are the core of the nation. A person used to say this to me when he talked about Vietnamese society. First is descendants. The second is connections. The third is money. Fourth is knowledge. That sounds sad, doesn’t it? But what else can we do? It is what it is. It’s always unfair to less fortunate people. Talented people are ignored and after college, they struggle to find a job that fits with their majors. Many of them have to work in an industry that has nothing to do with their degrees. Their places are taken over by people with money, connections, and descendants. Talented people are the only hope to help the nation grow up.

Sometimes I read articles related to teachers who quit their jobs in the city to go to every poor village to bring knowledge to every poor student there, or teachers who care for every poor-performed student or bad student and want to bring them back on track. I feel emotional. They don’t mind anything to make sure their students be good at studying and being a good person. I pay huge respect to every teacher who is passionate, dedicated, and caring because they do things started from the heart. We need more teachers like them. 

For many years, the teacher's job is the most respected ever. Even though it is difficult, the teachers still try their best to complete their job in the role of bringing knowledge and inspiration to every student. In Vietnam, the teacher's job is like a boatman taking students across the river. Once the students reach another side of the river, the teacher welcomes other students on the boat. And just like that teachers never have a minute to rest even though on their hair is getting gray or their voice is hoarse. I want to wish every teacher around the world to have good health and keep the flame of knowledge as well as the morality of the teacher inside to give to every student. 

Thank you so much for everything.