Baoshan Elementary School breathes together with the tribe, unafraid even of the rugged roads

Editor's note: Baoshan Elementary School in Taoyuan, Kaohsiung, after wandering away from home for nearly a thousand days following Typhoon Morakot, finally returned to the tribe to reopen. Although there are only six children, the whole school worked together to take part in an English choir competition and even won an excellence award, which is truly remarkable. After the school reopened, several typhoons once again tested all the teachers and students. The following article was written by a Morakot reporter, sharing the efforts of this tiny school with everyone.

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Amid the ear-splitting din of cicadas, students who had finished class - older children in front, little ones behind - dashed in a whole flock toward the swings and slides at the other end of the playground. In the crisp air of the high altitude, under the morning sunlight, they formed a beautiful scene. This is Baoshan Elementary School in Baoshan Village, Taoyuan District, Kaohsiung City, located on the Tengzhi forest road that was once torn apart after Typhoon Morakot, accompanying the Bunun people of the Erjituan tribe as they rebuilt their home village.

With six children in the whole school, led by Principal Ke Yanhe and eight teachers, they breathe and learn freely in Baoshan Erjituan. This is not only the smallest elementary school in the country, but also the elementary school at the highest altitude in all of Kaohsiung City, and moreover a Bunun elementary school that, after three years of effort following Typhoon Morakot, finally won the right to return to its original campus. Last year, all six students in the school took part together in an English choir competition and, full of vigor, won an excellence award.

Baoshan Elementary School has three new first-grade students this year, breaking last semester's record of only one new student enrolling. "Bisuai's grandson and the school janitor's son have both enrolled, and one transferred here from Gaozhong (in Taoyuan District)," Director Zeng Guoyi said proudly, counting on his fingers.