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| Language
School | Dr. Chu Chew Shong | History of
the Language School | Forms
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Along with the Day School, the Chinese Language School had its first classes on August 1, 1921. It opened with an enrollment of 100 children and had two grades. Dr. Chu Chew Shong was the first principal and assisting him were two teachers and two volunteer teachers. Consisting at first of only grammar school students, the classes began at 4:00 p.m. and ended at 6:00 p.m.
This inauguration of a separate Chinese Language School and Department complete with its own curriculum and teaching faculty, along with the regular Catholic parochial school system, was indeed unique. Never before was this concept of another tradition and culture, other than that was native to this country, was ever introduced into other parochial schools in America, except here at St. Mary's in the heart of San Francisco's Chinatown. Moreover, the Chinese Language School held just as much prominence - perhaps more so - in the minds of the Chinese as the Day School. Here in this school the Chinese language and writing was taught - a tradition and art and culture so necessary as well as so practical to a Chinese child. Likewise, the rich background of Chinese history and the essential fundamentals of the Catholic religion were also taught. In the beginning there were no tuition rates for the children, but this was changed in 1925 when a monthly rate of $.50 was charged. During the years 1929 and 1930 the enrollment went down to 75. In August 1931 Mr. John Yehall Chin was hired to replace Mr. Joseph Fisher as an administrator and teacher. In the summer of 1932 a free summer school was conducted with an enrollment of 165 students. Mr. Harry Woo and Miss Cybil Lum were the volunteer teachers. In 1933 the Chinese Language School had its first graduation for the students of the 6th grade. 
Because the enrollment of students in both the Day and Chinese Schools had increased, classrooms and living quarters for the Sisters were needed. The expansion of St. Mary's took place in 1926. In 1927 the "Feast of Lanterns" took place. It lasted 9 days and the money that was raised from that project paid for the additions to the school and convent.
In 1934 the whole student body of 300 participated in the May Crowning parade. Together with the Day School students and Mission members, they marched in full strength through Chinatown to Old St. Mary's Church. This Mother's Day celebration drew very good comments from the community and two Chinese daily newspapers wrote editorials of praises regarding this happy occasion. St. Mary's was deeply involved and participated in many public activities. In 1935 the Chinese music class and the lantern girls performed at Portsmouth Square in the celebration programs of the San Francisco Centenary Progress of Commerce. In 1936 they took part of the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge Grand Opening Parade and in the following year, the Golden Gate Bridge Grand Opening Day and Night Parades. Also in 1937, a colorful benefit opera was held in the Great Mandarin Theater to help finance the extension of the Chinese Language School into the Senior High School status. It was in June of this same year that the first students in the Junior High School received their diplomas. During this time the Sino-Japanese War was in progress. Many students entered wholeheartedly into the famous "St. Mary's Shoe Shine Brigade" which was initiated to help the war refugees in China. Almost everywhere throughout the City, one could see a Chinese boy with his shoeshine box hanging over his shoulder. Their labor of love nettled $900 for a most worthy cause. When Archbishop Paul Yu-Pin of Nanking visited our school in 1939 he saw St. Mary's with an excellent faculty and good facilities. He was very much impressed and he graciously accepted the Honorary Chairmanship of the School Board. In 1939 St. Mary's Chinese Language School had an enrollment of 500 students in the elementary, junior high and senior high classes. In the fall of this year the school's music class, dancing group and marching units gave a tow hour entertainment and fashion show at the Golden Gate International Exposition "China Day." In the same year St. Mary's Chinese library was formally opened for the benefit of both students and public at large. Also, it was in 1939 that the Rice Bowl Pageant for china opened in Chinatown. Again, the students from the Language School participated wholeheartedly in this important community affair. During this campaign they sold the greatest number of "Humanity Badges." This was more than any other student group in Chinatown. The total amount raised was $6,000. During the China-Japan war years, St. Mary's students actively and enthusiastically took part in all the patriotic activities on behalf of the people in china. St. Mary's students brought in almost $30,000 for refugees and war supplies for China. 
In 1940 when St. Mary's held its graduation ceremonies at Old St. Mary's Church with Archbishop John J. Mitty of San Francisco delivering the graduation address, there were graduates from both the Day School and Language School. For the first time, there were two Senior High School graduates: Miss Helen Jow and Miss Virginia Wong. The following August these two graduates were hired as teachers at St. Mary's Chinese Language School. Also in August of 1940 St. Mary's Chinese Girls' Drum Corps was organized with 30 members. Their first appearance was in St. Patrick's Day Parade in 1941. They showed a lot of talent and charm and this won them First Prize. For the next two years the Drum Corps, music class and dancing group were invited to many cities and towns in California to participate in the "Rice Bowls Festivals" to raise funds for the refugees. St. Mary's made special efforts in presenting fine entertainment and a colorful fashion show. In September of 1942 Mr. John Yehall chin, the school administrator, was called by the War department of United States to assist in the training of the National Chinese Air Force Cadets and Officers at Santa Ana Air Base. Mr. Chin was there for three years as an English instructor, interpreter and translator. He received his honorary discharge as a sergeant in November 1945. Mr. Chin then resumed his duties as school administrator. In 1946 the School Board, led by Dr. Chu Chew Shong, obtained the support of the Chinese Six Companies to start a "Building Fund Drive" in hopes of raising enough funds to buy some property as a permanent source of income for the operation of the Chinese Language School. Community leaders, friends and parents of the school responded well. Dr. Chu and Mr. Chin made trips to Los Angeles, Bakersfield, Reedley, Fresno and Hanford for donations. It took three years of hard work and continued effort. Their efforts were rewarded when a sum of $30,000 was raised and an apartment building was purchased in the fall of 1949. In June of 1950 Dr. Chu Chew Shong was honored with an Honorary Doctor of Laws and Literature by the University of San Francisco. On June 8, 1956 not only St. Mary's, but also Chinatown, lost one of its most respected and beloved leaders, Dr. Chu Chew Shong. Mr. John Yehall Chin, who was both teacher and administrator of the school since 1931, succeeded Dr. Chu as principal of St. Mary's Chinese Language School and has so remained up to the present time. In May of 1964 for his decades of service to the Church and the Chinese and American communities, Pope Paul VI decorated Mr. John Yehall Chin with the papal medal of "Pro Eccelesia et Pontifice." In August of the same year Mayor Jack F. Shelly appointed Mr. Chin as charter member of the newly organized San Francisco Human Rights Commission. In 1968 Mayor Joseph A. Alioto re-appointed him to the same commission for another four-year term. 
In 1972, Mr. John Yehall Chin, encouraged by his many American and Chinese friends, took the political challenge and ran for a seat on the Governing Board of San Francisco Community College District. After three months of hard campaigning throughout the city and at the end he was the top vote getter among thirty-four candidates for the seven seats on the Board. He became the first American Chinese who ran for an elective office and won. In 1976, he ran for re-election on the Board and again, he won. In January 1974 the government of the Republic of China presented Mr. Chin with the "Hai Kwong Medal" (Glory of the overseas Chinese) for his achievements in the field of education and his good work at St. Mary's. In June, 1978 Pope John Paul II awarded Miss Helen Jow, school administrator, the medal of "Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice" for her forty years of service to the Chinese community and to the church. She received this honor at ceremonies held at Old St. Mary's Church with Archbishop McGucken presiding. A banquet was also held that evening at the Four Seas Restaurant to celebrate this happy occasion. She resigned her position as administrator in 1984. The Language School suffered a great loss. However, Miss Jow is still a member of the School Board and continues to do her best to help St. Mary's. Because of his Christian exemplary life and decades of Church and community services, Pope John Paul II decorated Mr. Chin as Knight of the Holy Sepulchre in 1981. In the following year, his wife, Sybil M. Chin, Class of 1927 (St. Mary's Day School) was also decorated by the Holy Father as Lady of the Holy Sepulchre. For nearly a century, the Chinese Language School has been a solid and integral part of St. Mary's Chinese Mission. | |