Teacher vs. Education

Teacher in Chinese is “Jiào-shī,” which means “the master of education.”

Education in Chinese is “Jiào-yù,” which means “teaching and nurturing.”

Parents who make children’s lunchboxes, the chef who makes school buffets, and all other school staff who influence us with their living examples are, in a way, the “masters” of education and educators.

In our fantasy, education is not merely about handing out instructions. Instead, it is a never-ending ecosystem where individuals can cultivate (teach) and be nurtured (learn) with ever-lasting resources.

Every country appreciates their teachers on various dates based on their significant history. Receiving the message from a professor friend reminded us of this momentous day, and Hazel recorded my thoughts on this 5x7 card.

On September 28th, we thank our friend for being our greatest inspiration.

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By the way, have you ever wondered why kitchens and cafeterias are essential to our education system?

Children are known for having short attention spans. A common understanding is that a child’s maximum attention span is about two to three times his age. For example, 7 to 8-year-old children have about 16–24 minutes of continuous concentration.

Besides the factors related to their age group, other reasons contribute to a child’s short attention span, such as when they feel hungry. Many studies have shown children’s school performance is linked to food nutrition. When they are well-fed, they are ready to learn better. In addition to a typical school lunch, a flexible program called “Breakfast after Bell” developed by USDA has shown an increased advantage by delivering food directly to the classroom.

Looking back at these school diagrams, it makes sense that the kitchen, cafeteria, and indoor sports courts are close together. They are also within a certain proximity to the classrooms, which increases accessibility for students when they take their breaks.