[Explanation] The bell after class broke the silence of the campus. The students played basketball on the playground and games with the teachers.

Who could have imagined that these lively, bright and clever children were once "bad boys" in the eyes of adults.

Recently, the reporter went to the Ugly Duckling Middle School in Yiliang County, 50 kilometers away from Kunming, to listen to the story of the children's transformation from "ugly ducklings" to "white swans".

  [Explanation] The Ugly Duckling Middle School was established in 2011. It is a private junior high school that specializes in helping "problem children" who are not adapted to traditional education at the junior high level.

This school is a "savior" in the eyes of some parents and a "home" in the eyes of some students. Zhan Danian, who has been engaged in education for 30 years, is the patriarch of this "home".

In his eyes, these "problem children" just encountered problems and couldn't find solutions for the time being.

  [Concurrent] Zhan Danian, Principal of Ugly Duckling Middle School

  When it comes to the school of Ugly Duckling, many people think it is a school for "problem kids".

What kind of children are they?

Naughty people, those who don’t come home at night, those who play truant, puppies, addicted to the Internet, and go to bars. In fact, these children have no problems themselves, they encounter problems that cannot be solved, and they are eventually misunderstood, misunderstood, or rejected. It becomes a "problem child".

  [Explanation] The students of Ugly Duckling Middle School come from all over the country, and there may be students enrolled at any time of any day.

Very few students come to Ugly Duckling Middle School voluntarily, and most of them are "cheated" or "tied" by their parents.

Xu Meng, a junior student from Taizhou, Zhejiang, recalled the experience of entering the school at the time, saying that he hated the school at first, but after getting along with his classmates and teachers, he began to like it and understood the decision of his parents.

  [Concurrent] Xu Meng (pseudonym), student of Ugly Duckling Middle School

  When I first came, I can say it was annoying. I hate why my parents lied to me and sent me to this place. Then I understood them later, because if I didn’t lie to me, I wouldn’t come.

I like Ugly Duckling School very much, and I will definitely miss this school after graduation, because I spent most of my junior high school career at Ugly Duckling School.

  [Explanation] In Zhan Danian’s understanding, only laughs can be used to play, can we close the distance with students, and achieve an equal relationship between teachers and students.

Therefore, "love to laugh and play" has become one of the most important review criteria for teachers in Ugly Duckling Middle School. Teacher Juanjuan from the "post-90s" is the "girl who loves to laugh" and is affectionately called "Hu Niu".

She recalled that in the first class, facing these "problem children", she was nervous and frightened.

  [Concurrent] Juan Juan (pseudonym), teacher of Ugly Duckling Middle School

  When I first came here, one was my own psychological aspect. In fact, as soon as I heard that all of them were junior high school students, I wondered in my heart that if there were any problems in class, they would scold me. At that time, they actually had this concern and this. I was nervous. From the moment I came to the classroom, I greeted you (me) happily and relaxedly, and then you (me) suddenly felt that the tension was gone.

  [Explanation] It is understood that the Ugly Duckling Middle School has 58 students in three classes from the first to third grades. There are 24 teachers who eat and live with the children, and care for them in every possible way from study to life.

The special thing about Ugly Duckling Middle School is the coexistence of militarized management and creation. The graffiti and sticker walls can be seen everywhere, expressing their inner thoughts and creativity.

Zhan Danian said that children are in adolescence and need to express their emotions. Only when they feel full respect can they have a healthy mind.

  [Concurrent] Zhan Danian, Principal of Ugly Duckling Middle School

  Militarization and freedom are not contradictory, so one side is militarization (management method) to give them (physical) strength.

One side is free and warm, allowing (them) to feel the existence of creation.

  [Explanation] More than 2,000 students have "graduated" from Ugly Duckling Middle School for 10 years.

Some students come to Ugly Duckling Middle School in just a few months or even less, and they can return to their normal life after "graduating". Some children pass the high school entrance examination and enter the general high school, then go to university or graduate school, and some children pass their own skills. Find a satisfactory job.

Now that the Ugly Duckling Middle School has moved to Rising Village on the hillside, Zhan Danian said: "In the future, children can run on the mountain road as much as they want, because the Ugly Duckling will eventually fly into the blue sky.

  He Shuting reports from Kunming, Yunnan

Editor in charge: [Chen Haifeng]