The Joys of Tug of war - How Jiasian Elementary School upended tradition / 樂在拔河 甲仙國小顛覆傳統的奇蹟
The Joys of Tug of war - How Jiasian Elementary School upended tradition
◎English translation: Marie-Claude Pelchat ◎Photo by Pao Chung-hui
"Time to practice!" Every day at 12:30, Jiasian Elementary School's tug-of-war team gathers on the basketball court to practice. They work in pairs or teams of three or five. Sometimes they joke around while competing against one another, and usually they are merry while learning and growing up, because here the goal of learning is happiness!
The school's tug-of-war team was established in February 2011. Since then, it has won 20 trophies, including the National Cup, etc. "We are very happy yet very surprised that we have attained these achievements!" says Principal Lin Hua-cyu. "At first, we joined competitions so the children could see the world, and we let sixth-graders join if they were interested. The important thing was that the children were happy." The school's buildings were still being rebuilt, so to make up for a lack of equipment, the school made the most of its situation and available materials by practicing with ropes tied to tree or basketball poles.
What adults see as hardships, children see as a source of happiness. Without training equipment, a daily four-part training program was devised. In the morning, the children train for running and physcial exercises; at noon, they watch films about tug-of-war competitions; in the afternoon, they do rope-skills training and compete as teams; finally, after school, they go back to the mountain to run and do physical training. Why take part in the tug-of-war? "Because we like it!" the children reply happily.
"God works in mysterious ways. When He wants to send us a gift, He doesn't do it directly, but makes it so that we have to travel on long roads, take many turns and see a great deal of landscape," says coach Jhang Yong-hao. Apart from the children gaining a sense of accomplishment, the tug-of-war team has given Jiasian residents real encouragement. The youngsters' happiness and strength to move forward has been uplifting for locals still coping with the aftermath of 2009's Typhoon Morakot.
This miracle of transformation touched Yang Li-chou, a Golden Horse Award-winning filmmaker, whose 2012 documentary "The River" features Jiasian, the school and the tug-of-war team. Kaohsiung City Government's Education Bureau of Kaohsiung City has provided NT$180,000 to purchase a dedicated tug-of-war lane, protective straps and other equipment, so we can expect great things from the team as the miracle continues!
樂在拔河 甲仙國小顛覆傳統的奇蹟
◎文／盧怡如 ◎攝影／鮑忠暉
「練習囉！」每到中午12點半，甲仙國小拔河隊同學自動到籃球場練習，他們或兩兩並肩、或三五成群，也許嬉鬧，卻也彼此較量；也許歡樂，卻也教學相長；因為這裡的學習宗旨，是快樂！
拔河隊於2011年2月成立以來勇奪全國盃等20座獎杯。「能有這些成績，很高興、也很意外！」校長林華曲說。「 一開始是藉由比賽讓孩子見見世面，也讓六年級同學自由參加練習，只要孩子快樂就好。」由於當時校舍尚在整建，為了克服練習設備不足，校方想出「因地制宜、就地取材」的方式，把繩子綁在樹或籃球架上，當成拔河機來練習。
大人眼中的辛苦，卻是孩子快樂的泉源。在設備不足的環境下，每天訓練四個時段：早上是跑步和體能訓練，中午觀看拔河比賽的影片，下午做拉繩技巧訓練和分組對抗，放學後再做跑步和體能訓練。為什麼要拔河？「就是喜歡！」孩子興高采烈地回答 。
「上帝的旨意很神秘，當祂要送一樣禮物，往往不是直接給，而是要多走一些路、多轉一些彎、多看一點風景。」教練張永豪說。除了獲得成就感，拔河隊更鼓勵甲仙鄉親，讓遭受莫拉克風災重創的心靈，因為孩子的樂觀，而獲得安慰與奮發向上的能量。
這段顛覆傳統的奇蹟，讓金馬獎導演楊力州深受感動，拍攝紀錄片《拔一條河》；市府教育局也適時補助18萬經費 ，購置拔河道及後衛護具背帶等設備。
奇蹟仍在進行中，讓我們拭目以待。
Presenting Kaohsiung Korean International School and Principal Kim Jin Sub
◎English translation: Peng Hsin-yi
◎Photo by Hou Ya-ting
Kaohsiung Korean International School has been in operation for fifty-one years. It is an indispensible pillar for the local Korean community and offers excellent education for Korean children that reside in Kaohsiung. Although the campus is not very big, it is nicely designed and well kept. The school's principal is Kim Jin Sub, and currently there are twenty students enrolled in the regular afternoon program which offers classes for students ranging from first to sixth grade.
In the morning, the students attend regular classes at regular Taiwanese elementary schools and study alongside Taiwanese classmates. Then from 1:00 to 5:30 pm they go over to the Korean school where they continue their classes in Korean. They also learn about their traditional Korean culture and heritage.
The Korean school also offers classes on Saturdays, granting students who are unable to attend during the week, an opportunity to learn Korean. The regular afternoon program includes courses in Korean language, cultural education and samul nori (Korean music played on a set of four percussion instruments). They also teach the students about Korean festivals such as "Kimchee Day", when children learn how to make the Korea's national food. The curriculum was carefully designed to provide a practical and fun education.
Principal Kim began working at the Korean school four months ago and was very excited about moving Kaohsiung. He believes it is very important for children to maintain a good understanding of their native culture. He encourages students to come and see him in his office at anytime. Although he hasn't been in Kaohsiung for very long, he likes Kaohsiung's mild autumn and winter. He feels the people are very welcoming and friendly. He enjoys a good quality of life in Kaohsiung, with its many parks and green areas. He feels the cost of living is reasonable. He particularly loves mangos and enjoys Taiwan's wide variety and quality fruits.
Although studying two languages and cultures is a tall challenge, Mr. Kim has never heard any children complain. He admits, it is usually the parents that have concerns about the children's heavy workload. However, Principal Kim believes the most important things to remember when working in a cross-cultural environment, is maintaining a positive attitude, keeping an open mind and accepting the local culture's unique characteristics. He also believes language is the key to connecting cultures. Language is useful for blending in with other cultures, so he plans to continue studying Mandarin and enjoying a great in-depth experience in the local culture.
高雄韓國國際學校 文化紮根
◎文．攝影／侯雅婷
成立51年的高雄韓國國際學校，提供在高雄的韓籍國小學童接受韓國母語的教育機會。全校一至六年級20 位小朋友，上午同一般的台灣國小學生接受九年義務教育後，下午1點半到5點半，進到韓國學校，繼續學習韓文，連結韓國文化。
高雄韓國學校星期六設有週末學校，提供平日無法參加下午班的國小學生學習韓語的機會。一般生課程除了韓語教授，透過四物遊戲(韓國傳統敲擊樂器) 的學習、遠足以及文化體驗日等活動，比如：冬季泡菜製作，課程精彩豐富。校園小而美，設置有規劃縝密的三線跑道迷你操場，每當下課時間或放學後，總可見到小朋友在操場上盡情奔跑。在這裏，人與人的互動更加緊密，校長金鎮燮告訴小朋友們，隨時歡迎小朋友們進來找他。
金鎮燮校長到校服務4個月，儘管還沒有太多時間認識高雄，但他很喜歡高雄秋、冬兩季舒適宜人的天氣和友善、親切的市民，他稱讚高雄是非常適合生活的城市，市區隨處可見公園等綠色休憩空間和平實的物價，他特別喜歡種類眾多的水果，大讚芒果好吃。
學習的路也許漫長，金校長側著頭想一想，說道，沒聽過小朋友抱怨太累，倒是學生家長很心疼孩子們太辛苦了。金校長提醒，面對跨文化的工作環境，包容心是最重要的，要衷心接納對方文化特色及優點，此外，金校長認為，學習當地的語言有助於融入當地的生活，因此，金校長也持續學習中文，體驗高雄更動人的風土人情。