Teacher Shows Girls How to Reach The
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18 | Friday, December 11, 2020 HONG KONG EDITION | CHINA DAILY LIFE Musical works celebrate Teacher shows girls Party-founding centenary By XING YI in Shanghai been popular since the 1970s. [email protected] Hao, a professor at the Central Conservatory of Music, says what how to reach the top Four new musical compositions he wants to express is in the poem, to mark the 100th anniversary of citing the lines: “Friends, please let the founding of the Communist us believe in the future, believe in Inspirational Party of China next year held their our unbending striving, believe in debut rehearsals in Shanghai on our youth that can conquer death, woman breaks Saturday. believe in the future — believe in The four works were created by life.” cycle of poverty musicians born in the 1950s, 60s, The last piece, My Father’s Gen- in mountain areas 70s and 80s, representing the dif- eration, was done by Yang Fan. ferent perspectives on communist Yang was the composer for the as she realizes belief from different generations. music in the award-winning dance Jia Daqun, 65, completed a con- production The Eternal Wave, potential certo for orchestra titled Zhu Lang which tells a revolutionary story of of students, Xin Chao (A Heart Pursuing the Communist intelligence’s mission Waves). The name of his music on the eve of Shanghai’s liberation Chen Meiling and echoed a 1927 poem by Mao Zed- in 1949. ong, one of the founders of the Yang says the theme of his music Li Yingqing report. CPC, which goes: I pledge my wine was drawn from the dance produc- to the surging torrent, the tide of tion, which celebrated the 70th t was a chance meeting that my heart swells with the waves. anniversary of the founding of the revealed the reality of one life Jia, a professor of composition at People’s Republic of China. as it changed another. About the Shanghai Conservatory of Yu Long, music director of the 20 years ago, while on the way Music, says: “The past centenary is Shanghai Symphony Orchestra Ito visit a student’s house, Zhang Gui- full of history for China, and I who initiated the commission of the mei, then a rural teacher in Huaping choose the form of a concerto for works, says: “It’s commendable that county, Lijiang, Yunnan province, orchestra to show my respect to the four composers took the time noticed a girl sitting on the hillside. this era, the Party, the country and and effort for this project during the She was staring blankly into space. the people.” pandemic. We hope their music, She was completely preoccupied. students were concentrating fully on Yu Yang, a composer born in the which is created based on their The girl, 13, told Zhang she was their studies.” 1960s, showcased his symphony backgrounds, will bring different about to get married. It was Chen accompanied Zhang Guimei An Ode to China. feelings on this historic occasion.” arranged by her parents. on a business trip to Kunming, capi- Hao Weiya was born in the Zhou Ping, head of the Shanghai “But I want to go to school,” the tal of Yunnan, in August. At the end 1970s, and his creation of music for Symphony Orchestra, says girl says. Zhang went to her house of the day, the teacher was exhausted soprano and a large orchestra is excerpts of the four compositions and tried to persuade her parents to and could barely speak. But she also set to a poem, Believe in the will be staged at the 2021 Shanghai let the girl return to school and insisted on returning to Huaping, Future. New Year Concert and the full ver- promised to pay for her tuition her- about a four-hour drive from Kun- The poem was written by Guo sions will make their debut as early self. However, they didn’t agree. ming, to look after the newcomers. Lusheng under the pen name Shi as the end of April before going on Zhang says she feels sorry not Now a policewoman at Yongsheng Zhi (index finger) in 1968, and has a nationwide tour. being able to help. “We always say, county in Lijiang, Chen says she each child should stand on the same learned from Zhang to “fully fulfill starting line, but these girls didn’t duty at work and help people in even have a chance to get on the need”. track,” she tells Xinhua News Agency. Zhou Yunli, 27, a former graduate, That fateful encounter persuaded says the school has grown and facili- Zhang to build a free high school for ties have improved. Now it covers 5 girls, aiming to help break the cycle hectares, with a large, renovated that saw women drop out of educa- teaching building, three dormito- tion, marry early and spend their ries, a canteen and a soccer field. whole life in the remote mountain. Classrooms are equipped with com- The priority of less well-off families puters and electronic screens. The was to spend whatever scarce resour- school is financed by the local gov- ces they had on educating their sons. ernment and has received donations After years trying to raise funds, from individuals and companies. in 2008, Huaping High School for In 2008, Zhou’s father could only Girls, a free public high school, was afford to send one of two daughters founded at the foot of the Shizi to high school, and her elder sister Composer Hao Weiya explains the motivation behind his work in Mountain in Huaping, where Zhang was about to give up her chance. “If Shanghai on Saturday. PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY is the principal. that happened, I would be guilty my Over the decades, Zhang walked whole life.” thousands of kilometers, visiting The sisters were both able to go to students’ families in the deep moun- the school because it was free. tain, talking to villagers, persuading Zhou returned to the girls’ school Irrigation projects girls to go back to school. It has been Top: Zhang Guimei, principal of Huaping High School for Girls, a in 2015 as a math teacher, after grad- worth it. More than 1,800 graduates free public high school, in Huaping county, Lijiang, Yunnan prov- uating from Yunnan Normal Univer- granted heritage status have been admitted to college, ince, checks students in class. PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY Middle: Zhang sity, to “help change the life of girls which is regarded a “miracle” in the visits a student’s home in 2011. XINHUA Above: Zhang enjoys the from poor families like me”, she says. remote area, as most students didn’t moment with her students in September. CHEN XINBO / XINHUA She says all students must have BEIJING — Four ancient Chi- canal in China’s history, making perform well in academic study short hair, eat lunch within 10 min- nese irrigation sites were honored use of the shaft-tunnel method. before the school was established. utes and wash clothes once a week, as World Heritage irrigation struc- The weirs of Baishaxi Stream Though lacking full health, not and bonus to bolster rural educa- prevent poverty from passing down to save time for study. Now the tures on Tuesday, according to the project in East China’s Zhejiang least dealing with rheumatoid tion and poor people. from generation to generation. school has three classes with about Ministry of Water Resources. province are comprised of 36 arthritis and osteoporosis, Zhang, Zhang Guimei says she wants chil- 150 students in total. Granted by the International weirs, 21 of which are still provid- now 63, insists on a daily routine — dren from the mountain to attend School in remote area Zhou says the principal will never Commission on Irrigation and ing water for irrigation. The weir get up at around 5 am to turn on the the best universities. Chen Fayu, 27, remembers the first be satisfied with grades from their Drainage, the inclusion of the four complex covers 45 kilometers of lights of the teaching building, call In early December, she was named day she came to Huaping High gaokao, China’s college entrance irrigation projects has brought the the Baishaxi Stream and has a total students to get up with a loudspeak- a national outstanding member of School for Girls in 2009, where there exam. “She always says we should total number of Chinese irrigation water-level drop of 168 meters. The er, accompany students to classes the Communist Party of China for was only one building, no walls, gate have done better,” she says, adding projects on the list to 23. Sangyuanwei polder embankment and sleep after senior students’ her dedication to education in rural or restroom. Students and teachers although the school’s enrollment The Tianbao Weir, one of the system is situated in southern Chi- study ends at midnight. She swal- China. She was also given the honor slept in empty classrooms. rate often ranks in the front in the newly awarded projects, is located na’s Guangdong province. lows dozens of pills a day. She has of the country’s “role model for Chen says she could not have city. in Fujian province. With a history Chen Mingzhong, an official collapsed several times from exhaus- teachers”, “advanced worker” and enrolled in any high school because Li Cong, deputy director of the of more than 1,200 years, the weir with the ministry, says the ancient tion on the campus. “outstanding woman”. Her moving she didn’t reach the required grade, publicity department of Huaping, is the oldest extant water project irrigation projects are treasures of Zhang’s husband died in the stories inspire thousands of people.