Visiting Wando Village School: An Educational Community Growing Together...

Nuri Village School making flower tea. Photo by Wando Office of Education

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Jun-kyung] The ‘Maeul School’ operated by the Wando Office of Education is taking the lead in revitalizing the local educational community, raising expectations among local residents.

The ‘Maeul School’ refers to a school where members of the village educational community support school educational activities based on autonomous capabilities and conduct out-of-school educational activities that utilize the characteristics of the region, nurturing children together and helping them grow into owners of the village with the qualities of democratic citizens.

There are six Maeul Schools in Wando: ▲Haetsalmaru Maeul School ▲Neopdo Happiness Maeul School ▲Nuri Maeul School ▲Eoyeongcha Maeul School ▲I-eum Maeul School ▲Seongbaek Art Maeul School, which are operating with a total support of 58 million KRW.

The Wando Office of Education expanded the number of Maeul Schools from one last year to six this year, striving to enhance the educational function of the village and restore school educational capacity.

In particular, the education office staff received praise for joining hands with local residents to revitalize Maeul Schools and develop education, listening to voices from the field and drawing deep empathy from residents.

The designated Maeul Schools have set “an educational community growing together” as their core task and are leading efforts to discover local resources and strengthen school-linked support activities through talent donation to schools and communities struggling due to COVID-19.

◆ Haetsalmaru Maeul School / Neopdo Happiness Maeul School

Known as the central Maeul School in Wando, ‘Haetsalmaru Maeul School’ is a village school operated by parents and local residents of Sinji-myeon to overcome the educational limitations caused by the mismatch between life and learning and to achieve change and innovation.

'Haetsalmaru Village School' Selected as Wando Central Village School Photo by Wando Office of Education

‘Haetsalmaru’ was selected for the Jeollanam-do Office of Education’s public project this year and receives 20 million KRW in support. Currently, it is conducting the ‘Creating a Story-filled Sinji Project’ to make good use of the village’s ecological infrastructure and highlight local characteristics.

This Maeul School attracted the attention of local residents and students by painting beautiful murals on old village walls. It also plays a significant role as a central Maeul School by developing village history exploration and marine healing programs through seafood cooking practice, fish farm experience, and musicals.

‘Neopdo Happiness Maeul School’ was established by residents and parents of Neopdo and Nohwa areas with the belief that “it takes the devotion of the whole village to raise one child.”

Although it is a small island, both village elders and children become teachers, sharing their talents and participating in Maeul School activities, enhancing life satisfaction and harmony.

Classes are organized with 15 students each, learning manners through tea ceremony and meditation, and competing with differentiated programs such as English camps and cooking experiences using natural ingredients.

◆ Seongbaek History and Art Maeul School / Eoyeongcha Maeul School

The first Maeul School to start in Wando is the ‘Seongbaek History and Art School.’ This Maeul School has newly added history programs to its ongoing art activities, introducing Wando’s beautiful nature and conveying its precious history. It also offers various programs such as etiquette and tea ceremony education and small concerts.

‘Eoyeongcha Maeul School’ treated children’s body and mind through art therapy and traditional games that are fading away, engaging in meaningful activities related to Wando’s nature and history. ‘Eoyeongcha,’ with 23 traditional play instructors, visited kindergartens and elementary schools requiring emergency care during COVID-19 and participated as after-school Maeul School teachers.

'Eoyeongcha Village School' teaching art and traditional games Photo by Wando Office of Education

They emphasized the importance of history through traditional games and actively involved children in the play. Their efforts to teach enjoyment together deeply resonated with participating students.

◆ I-eum Maeul School / Wando Nuri Maeul School

‘I-eum’ means “connecting people to people, village to school, adults to children.” Based on this concept, the ‘I-eum Maeul School’ operated by the Wando Education Innovation Alliance runs programs themed around seasonal meals, such as crop observation and experience, cooking, and making village newspapers.

Parents and local residents of 'Eum Maeul School' teaching Seasonal Table. Photo by Wando Office of Education

This Maeul School practices various methods where teachers and children learn the value of community and the village and school raise children together.

‘Wando Nuri Maeul School,’ composed of local artists, is a nonprofit social organization that stimulates students’ interest and provides diverse experiences centered on flower tea making and play school.

It offers various programs such as paper folding, watercolor painting, illustration, Korean painting, and calligraphy. To overcome the limitations of arts and physical education in rural areas, local artists donate their talents, serving as a model.

Kim Myung-sik, Superintendent of Wando Education, said, “Since the inauguration of Superintendent Jang Seok-woong, Jeonnam education has been implementing policies to overcome challenges through education. Especially through collaboration with local governments and communication and cooperation with local residents and parents, we are strengthening educational community activities so that Jeonnam students can grow with affection for the region and become talented individuals of Jeonnam.” He added, “Now, we face an era where education cannot be handled by school education alone. Maeul Schools and village educational communities are where village elders develop their capabilities to provide educational services to children in village schools.”

He continued, “Wando education is stirring with these new attempts. Wando County is moving in step with the bold changes in Jeonnam education, and the passion of parents and local residents is intense. We will do our best to nurture happy and capable Wando people who learn about, love, and work for Wando while growing up in Wando.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.