Cover Story
experience for students, parents and teachers alike.”
Sometimes it is about not letting traditions slip away from memory,
and at other times it is about not letting our favorite memories slip
away, as grade 9 student Nancy Li remembers from her Experiential
Learning trip to Suzhou. “My great grandmother used to tell me stories
of her home town, Suzhou, about how she met my great grandfather
there, about living through the Cultural Revolution, and so many other
stories. Now she is 96 years old, and does not remember her children
or grandchildren, even me, but she remembers Suzhou. Having gone
to Suzhou on this study trip, I can see why she held on to it. Like her,
Suzhou is soft and beautiful but tough.” For many Keystone students
from grades 4 to 9, the Experiential Learning trips to various provinces
of China were not only about discovering the country and its diversity,
but also about recognizing themselves, their families and their roots.
Culture and traditions offer plenty of opportunities to explore and
experience home roots. However they are most ingrained in the
conditions of social coexistence and opportunities of social interaction.
It is in the social sphere that the journey of discovery, sometimes,
becomes unconsciously and subconsciously normal, normalized, and
a reflection of who we are or who we are going to be. Primary school
homeroom teacher Lei Junfang remembers one such instance: “One
of my student’s mother told me that on seeing a child behaving badly
in public, my student turned around and said: “mum, maybe he hasn’t
learned ‘respect,’ which is part of my school’s five values. He should have
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The Keystone Magazine
come to Keystone.” Nothing brings me more gratification than knowing
that my students have truly internalized these traditional values.” It is
with similar gratitude that a grade 7 mother feels pride in her son who
composed a poem for her on Mother’s Day. She believes it is a sign of
respect not only for her, but also for all those who have helped her son
become who he is.
The five Shared Values – Compassion, Justice, Respect, Wisdom
and Hone