Mr. Shi will always live in our hearts
Author: Du Shenghui
In July 1977, I graduated from junior high school at Xiamiao Middle School, and in September I entered my first year of high school here. Mr. Shi Xiangdong taught us chemistry, he wore a pair of glasses, fair skin, and a tall square face. At that time, Mr. Shi had just been transferred from Xianyang Liquan Senior High School to Xiamiao Middle School in our hometown.
In 1977, the first year of the resumption of the college entrance examination, the provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions were independently proposed, so there were nearly 30 chemistry college entrance examination questions in 77 years.
When we were in high school, there were three rows of classrooms from north to south, each row of four classrooms from east to west, and each row of classrooms had two blackboards outside the east wall (see photo back).
In 1978, Mr. Shi often used his spare time to write chemistry problems on the blackboard outside the east wall of our classroom, and after a day or two, he used his free time to explain to us. Some of the questions are briefly mentioned, and some of the questions are explained in detail, and many of these questions are the college entrance examination questions of a certain province in 1977.
In 1978, I had just come back from participating in the county mathematics competition, and Mr. Shi asked me to participate in the chemistry competition, and I said that I had not studied chemistry recently, and Mr. Shi said, "It's okay, you can go!"
A few days later, Mr. Shi took 11 students from Xiamiao Middle School to participate in a chemistry competition. When the results of the competition came out, 9 students won awards, and I was lucky to be the first in the county.
Xiamiao Middle School had the best results in the chemistry competition, and the county rewarded the school and us personally. The main reason for the excellent results is that Mr. Shi taught us well, explained many questions to us, explained them clearly, and explained them thoroughly, so that we all saw a lot and mastered a lot, and we were not nervous at all during the chemistry competition.
The award ceremony was held in Huaxian Cinema, and the first prize was won by 5 students, the first place was from Xiamiao Middle School, and the second to fifth places were from Xianlin Middle School. When we received the award, we were five in a row, I was in front, and I looked back, two of them were wearing glasses, some were wearing leather shoes, and they looked like children from the county town.
The first prize prizes are: 1 "Jiayin" brand radio produced by Shanghai Radio Factory, 2) Shanghai self-study series of mathematics, physics and chemistry, and 3 "Advanced Algebra" edited by the Department of Mathematics and Mechanics of Peking University.
The book "Advanced Algebra", which I have kept until now, is just taken. This book became the official textbook when I went to the mathematics department of Northwestern University, and later, during the 10 years I taught in the mathematics department of the university, I also taught the course "Advanced Algebra".
Speaking of which, you may ask, the chemistry competition is the first place in the county, why did you not go to the Department of Chemistry but to the Department of Mathematics?
It all started with participating in a chemistry competition in the Weinan area (now Weinan City). The winners of the county's chemistry competition participated in the chemistry competition in Weinan area, and most of the chemistry competition questions in the region were related to chemical experiments. Therefore, I did not win the chemistry competition in Weinan area, and this competition mainly made me realize that I had not done chemistry experiments in middle school, and there was no way or time to make up for this lesson.
Therefore, after I took the college entrance examination in 1979, my first choice was in the Department of Mathematics and the second in the Department of Chemistry of Northwest University.
The results of the college entrance examination in 1979 were particularly good, and most of the students in the science class were admitted, and many of them went to key universities (now called Yiyi, 211, etc.). Six students from our village took the college entrance examination and were all admitted, and they were all good schools. Among them, there is 1 Xi'an Jiaotong University, 2 Northwest University, 1 Xi'an Highway College (now Chang'an University), 1 Xi'an Army College, and 1 Shaanxi Normal University.
In those years, the college entrance examination results of Xiamiao Middle School were particularly good, mainly because the overall level of teachers was high and dedicated. The teachers of the five courses of politics, language, mathematics, physics, and chemistry all have bachelor's degrees and graduated from prestigious schools, and Ma Ren, a physics teacher, graduated from Peking University.
A few years ago, when we had a friendship between teachers and students, Mr. Shi said: "Although Xiamiao Middle School was a new school, teachers and students worked together, Xiamiao Middle School had created three years of glory in Huaxian County, which was the result of everyone's efforts!" Teacher Duan said: "I have been working in Xi'an for decades, and I also work in the school, I have not seen the dedication of the teachers of Xiamiao Middle School!"
I graduated from university in 1983 and graduate school in 1995, and I exchanged letters with Mr. Shi during this period.
In 1980, Mr. Shi was transferred to Xianlin Middle School and served as the head of the chemistry teaching and research group. He retired with honor in 2002.
In 2006 and 2020, we were honored to invite Mr. Shi.
In 2020, when teachers and students were fraternizing, I visited Mr. Shi at my home on Ziyi Road, Huazhou District, and my wife, Mr. Zhu, was also there, and she was in good health.
Three years have passed since the epidemic, and Mr. Shi has been on dialysis for one year due to kidney disease induced by Eryang.
On April 3, 2024, I suddenly saw Mr. Shi's circle of friends, and the result was an obituary posted by his son, our beloved Mr. Shi passed away at home at 13:35 on April 2, 2024, at the age of 83.
Because I can't leave my family, I regret that I can't personally send Mr. Shi on his last journey. I immediately contacted my classmates in my hometown, asked them to offer condolences and salutes on my behalf, and called my wife, Mr. Zhu!
Justice, Dechang and other students personally attended the farewell ceremony. More than 20 students from Liquan Middle School in Xianyang City (where Mr. Shi taught from 1970 to 1977) came to say their final goodbyes to Mr. Shi.
On the morning of the 4th, Principal Lihong and Mrs. Hua Li made a special trip from Xi'an to bid farewell to Mr. Shi. Together with Wang Zhengbin, Dang Zhaohui, Liu Youzheng, Yao Wenqi, Liu Qi and other 7 students, they are all liberal arts students, and they are also familiar with and admired Mr. Shi's professionalism and teaching style, and at the same time reflect their noble personality charm.
In August 2020, when teachers and students fraternized, Lihong said: "Teacher Shi has 'three fast', write fast, speak fast, and rub fast", and he also said that "Xiamiao Middle School is a place that changes the fate of each of us, and the teachers of Xiamiao Middle School are the guides of our lives and the helmsmen of the direction of the turning point of our destiny, so I can't say enough to thank him."
Wang Zhengbin, Dang Zhaohui, Liu Youzheng, Yao Wenqi, Liu Qi, Guo Chunxia, Zhang Jinxian, Xiao Sanchao, Zhang Jinsheng, Ren Chunping, Tian Xianque, Fu Xijun, Han Yixia, Ji Wuchang, Zhang Yanfang, Hui Huanzhang, Duan Xifen, Wei Yazhao and other 25 students expressed their condolences and condolences through WeChat and other forms.
Jin Province said: "I will always miss the respected teacher Shi !!!."
Chunping said: "The teacher rests in peace, and I will contact my wife, Teacher Zhu...".
Yazhao said: "I was shocked to learn that the respected teacher Shi traveled westward with a crane, and I was very saddened. May His Holiness rest in Heaven and enjoy eternal peace and tranquility. ”
On April 4th, Qingming Festival, Mr. Shi was buried in Tianlong Cemetery in Huazhou District.
Rest in peace, teacher, we will always miss you!
Du Shenghui 2024.4.5
Source: Author's contribution
Original author: Du Shenghui
Collation and editing: Huazhou Literature and History