Mr. Cui: A loving and serious principal

Mr. Cui: A loving and serious principal Author Shuai Zhiruo In December 2014, more than 400 member schools of the National Association of Chinese Schools in Phoenix...

Feinian Chinese School is the oldest Chinese school in the region. At this gathering, Principal Cui brought everyone good news: the Overseas Chinese Federation of Greater Phoenix is ​​looking for a suitable school building in the central and western part of Phoenix, and the school will resume classes this fall. The heads of each school present at the meeting expressed their congratulations to Principal Cui. Principal Cui warmly invited the heads of all Chinese schools in Phoenix to attend the school's resumption ceremony. The heads of the schools present expressed that they would definitely attend the celebration ceremony.

Everyone has never thought that before the school resumed classes in August, the respected Principal Cui has passed away. The meeting between Principal Cui and colleagues in the Chinese education field on New Year's Day this year turned out to be the last meeting. How can it not be extremely sad!

In recent years, the heads of the six Chinese schools in Phoenix have formed a habit of gathering together to discuss Chinese education issues before the start of each school year, and friendship has been formed between them. Colleagues have special respect for Principal Cui. His kind smile and polite and sincere attitude make people feel particularly approachable. Principal Cui is nearly eighty years old and still devotes himself to Chinese education. He works hard and conscientiously. It can be said that he devoted himself to the inheritance of Chinese language and culture until the last breath of his life.

Recently, principals have expressed their admiration and condolences to Teacher Cui in various ways. Everyone remembers that on March 26, Principal Cui sent an email saying that in accordance with the proposal of the principals’ gathering on New Year’s Day, the Overseas Chinese Federation has advanced the youth painting competition to the end of April, and asked the principals to forward the competition news. Principal Tian of Hope Chinese School said that this was Mr. Cui’s last wish. We will definitely cooperate and support him so that more students can participate in this competition. This is also a way to express his condolences to Mr. Cui. Teacher Cui is a role model for our Chinese language educators to learn from, and we will miss you forever. (Author Shuai Zhiruo: The 10th President of the National Association of Chinese Schools and the person in charge of the Phoenix Area Contact Center of the National Association of Chinese Schools)

The person standing on the left is Principal Cui Zengqi. January 3, 2016 was his last gathering with his Chinese education colleagues in the Phoenix area.