Shih Lin Elementary
[hway
jee temple] [Shih Lin Elementary]
[Wen Trung
Temple] [memory garden]
[dah
liao layer] [yellow leaf plantlife]
[Kai
King legend]
[Wen Trung God and scholars]
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title: hway jee temple |
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artist: Wu and Wu ( team members ) |
Shih
Lin Elementary i
s
the oldest grade school in Taiwan. She witnessed three generations of
time--the Ching Dynasty, the Japanese Reign, and the current government.
For a hundred years, she stood tall and thus residents of this area
hold a special sentiment toward it
As
we walk into the long river of history, let us travel back in time along
the riverbank and visit "the Rock."
In 1895, Taiwan was officially given to Japan as a condition of war.
The minister of education at the time felt an urgent need to set up an
education system here in Taiwan, and since Shih Lin was already known
for its education atmosphere, the Japanese government decided to set up
the Chee-Shan Rock School -- this is the origin of Shih-Lin Elementary.
June,1896, the school officially changed its name to First Japanese Grade School. And thus
Shih-Lin Elementary used it as
a school celebration date. It is now 105 years old. In the
past, the Japanese taught two separate systems: the "small"
school for the Japanese, and the "public" school for the Taiwanese.
In 1898 this school was again re-named, now called the "8 orchid" school ( 8 orchid is the old name for Shih Lin ). Even today, Shih Lin Elementary still keeps the old 8 orchid elementary's stone column.
1921,
it was called the Shih-Lin Public school, and then in 1974, it got its
current name.
In the Japanese era, public school were not limited to kids; as long as you wanted to learn, anyone could enroll. From old photographs we could see past graduates who are in their sixties, holding hands with little kids and woman and other children. Even today, many grandpas and grandmas graduate from the continuing education program.
From the Chee-Shan Rock school 105 years ago to today, Shih-Lin Elementary has been preserving its history. Everything from photographs to lunchboxes to graduation yearbooks are kept. There is even a painting by a famous Japanese artist whose work has become scarce today because most of his work has been destroyed during the Tokyo earthquake.
And
it is Shih-Lin Elementary who worked consistently and persistently to
preserve these valuable cultural treasures and unforgettable memories
for generations to come to see and treasure and learn from.
<<Mr.Shee's interview>>
Q : What was most memorable when you were asked to take charge of the Shih-Lin Elementary history museum? A : Most of the collection in this museum belonged to me or my friends. The most memorable is probably the collection of school flags, because people were throwing them away because they didn't know the value of them, until we put labels on them and made them into exhibitions. |
