Introducing Falun Dafa in an American Elementary School

By a Practitioner from Arkansas

(Clearwisdom.net)

My son is in the fifth grade this year. This semester, in his social studies class, one of the topics was Chinese holidays. When the teacher asked the students some questions about holidays in China, my son came home and asked me about them. I thought this would be a great chance to promote Dafa. The next day when picking up my son from school, I sought out the teacher and said that I would be delighted to come to the classroom to do a presentation on Chinese holidays.

On the morning of the last Wednesday of the semester, I went to my son's school. Two classes, about fifty students, came to listen to me speak. I told them about Chinese New Year, the mid-Autumn Festival, Tomb-sweeping Day, and Children's Day. Every time, after describing one holiday, I stopped to allow students to ask questions. Half an hour went by very quickly. I changed the subject and told them that other than Chinese holidays, I would like to tell them about something very important that is happening in China. I then opened up two posters, one with a picture of many young practitioners doing the exercises. I told them that Falun Gong emphasizes "Truthfulness, Compassion, Forbearance." Especially pertinent to them was not to lie to their teachers or parents, not to fight with classmates, and not to bully smaller classmates. I then related it to the current persecution in China. The children all listened earnestly.

My son's teacher was very interested in exercise and meditation. She said that last year, the physical education teacher retired, and that she now is a part time gym teacher. I then told her that I could take some time out every month to come teach a physical education class, and teach the students to practice the exercises. The students and teacher were quite happy about this.

I think that American middle and elementary schools often need parents to volunteer at the schools. This is a very good chance to promote Dafa. Hopefully, young fellow practitioners can pay more attention to this.
Chinese version available at http://minghui.ca/mh/articles/2005/1/5/92891.html

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