(애월) Aewol Elementary School annexed (더럭) Deoreok Elementary School 22 years ago because the number of students at Deoreok had dropped. But Deoreok will reopen as an independent school in March. Mike Laidman reports.
Report
(더럭) Deoreok Elementary School has been popular among tourists ever since it appeared in an electronics company commercial.
And at this year’s graduation ceremony, the school hall is filled with students and their families, all of them in an especially festive mood.
[slug] Deoreok to become independent elementary school in March
As the number of students has increased, the small school will gain independence beginning in March.
And the graduating class is overjoyed at the news.
INTERVIEW Park Hye-rin / Deoreok ES graduate A small school has many benefits. One of the most significant is the family-like atmosphere. I hope the school doesn’t lose that even if it gets bigger. [인터뷰: 박혜린 / 졸업생] "더럭분교는 작은 학교여서 선생님하고 모두 친하고 다정한 분위기에서 공부해서 좋았고 졸업을 하고 초등학교로 바뀌어서도 다정한 모습을 유지했으면 좋겠습니다."
[slug] Annexed in 1996 as population dropped
The rural school opened in 1946, but was annexed by(애월) Aewol Elementary School in 1996 because the number of enrolled students had dropped to only 27.
The local community has been making efforts to have the school regain its independence. Residents have offered apartments to mainland immigrants should they attend, and the school itself has joined in the efforts, offering bright, colorful classrooms and hands-on programs.
These efforts have made the school famous.
### C.G IN ### The population near the school has been growing continuously, from 1,080 in 2009 to 1,500 in 2017.
### C.G CHANGE ### Alongside with the influx of people, the number of students at Deoreok Elementary School grew from 17 to 97 over the same time period. ### C.G OUT ###
INTERVIEW Kim Jin-hui / Vice principal, Deoreok Elementary School We expect to have 103 students this year. Our school is getting bigger and will again attain its independence. [인터뷰: 김진희 / 애월초등학교 더럭분교장 교감] "학생 수가 점차 증가하면서 올해 (학생 수가) 103명으로 예상합니다. 큰집으로 이사하는 것처럼 학교가 승격됐습니다."
Deoreok Elementary School was once on the verge of closing down.
[Reporter] Mike Laidman [Camera] Hyeon Gwang-hoon
But now, the school’s success story is a sign of hope for other small rural schools.
