Heroic Teacher Died While Saving Students

Reprinted word for word from today's China Daily
---------------------------------------
"Father is watching us from heaven"

From a hillside in Shifang, Zhang Huibing is watching his family and students as they slowly rebuild their lives. The 29-year-old teacher, who died while trying to save his class, has been laid to rest with 10 pupils near their Hongbai school.

Zhang was teaching a physics lesson when the quake began. The former basketball player sped to the door. He could have easily ducked out in a hurry. Instead, he held the swaying door open and propped up the doorframe until all his students ran out. Immediate after the last student escaped, the classroom collapsed.

"I was not fully awake from noon nap. But, I felt someone pushing me. No sooner had I opened my eyes and seen it was Mr. Zhang, than the earthquake came," said student Tang Zhangjian. "The classroom was swaying violently zhang shouted 'Don't panic, everybody run out, quickly.'

He stretched his arm to keep the door and frame from falling down, trying hard to keep balance as the building was wobbling violently.

"That is the last time I saw his peaceful face."

Zhang's wife, Xuan Li, was in the staff dormitory of the school when the quake occurred. She and her 4-year-old daughter have survived.

The girl asked : "Mom, why is dad sleeping on the ground when it is raining?"

"Dad has gone to heaven."

"Who asked him to go there? He does not like me any more?"

"Dad loves you very much. He loves us. The angels asked him to go."

"It is raining, he is all wet. Mom, let's cover dad with a coat so he won't feel cold."
ANS