新学年度が始まり、平日の一般子供利用者は姿を消しました。しかし、校納金(公立でも高額!!)や箒、トイレットペーパー、洗剤など学校に物納しなければならない品々、制服や学用品等が用意できず学校に行かれない子供たちが寺子屋塾への入塾を希望して連日続々と来館。前年末、20数名だった塾生の数が倍以上に!!!詰め込んでももう席が作れないので、就学年齢は6歳ですが、6、7歳の子は、帰ってもらうしかありません。「来ないでね。」といっても、毎日何名か来ます。Babaが指を使って1,2,3…10の数え方を教えています。
The new school year has begun, so young library patrons are no longer seen on weekdays. But some children can’t go to school because they can’t pay their school
expenses, which are high even at government schools, or provide the required brooms, toilet paper, detergent or other supplies, or prepare their uniforms or school supplies. Many of these
children have been coming to the library hoping to attend its school. At the end of last year there were 20-some students. This year that number has more than doubled! Even if they crowd in,
there is not enough room for all of them. So, although children start school at age 6, we have had to send the 6- and 7-year-olds home. But even if we tell them not to come, some come every day.
Baba teaches them to count to 10 on their fingers.