Flag Raising Ceremony Teacher’s Sharing 2026-5-7

Mr.Billy Lee, our Head of Economics and History, delivered an inspiring sharing on the May Fourth Movement (五四運動). By revisiting the 1919 protests against the Treaty of Versailles, he highlighted the movement’s core spirit of patriotism, progress, democracy, and science. He encouraged students to draw strength from this historical turning point to pursue national rejuvenation.

Good morning, Principal, Assistant Principals, teachers and fellow students,

When we think of May and June, what comes to mind? To many of us, it brings to mind the hot and humid summer. But these two months also hold several important historical anniversaries. Last year, I spoke from this podium about VE Day – May 8, 1945, the end of World War II in Europe. Today, I would like to share another significant date: the May Fourth Movement, 五四運動 in China.

After the end of World War I, Germany was defeated, and the Allied Powers convened a peace conference in Paris. During the conference, the Allied Powers ignored China’s appeal to safeguard its national territorial sovereignty and transferred all German privileges in Shandong to Japan. On May 4, 1919, thousands of young students in Beijing, chanting slogans such as 'Fight for sovereignty', opposed the government's signing of the Treaty of Versailles. It soon grew into a nationwide patriotic movement against imperialism– one that shocked the world.

The May Fourth Movement was born at a moment of national crisis. It gave rise to a great spirit, with patriotism, progress, democracy, and science as its core elements. It strengthened the Chinese determination and confidence in achieving national rejuvenation. The heart of the May Fourth spirit is patriotism.

If you wish to learn more about the history of the May Fourth Movement, I recommend watching the film The Founding of a Party (also known as Beginning of the Great Revival: 建黨偉業). The movie captures the May Fourth Movement of 1919 as the ideological catalyst, showing how it sowed the seeds for communist thought in China. Thank you for listening.

Written by

Mr. Billy Lee

Head of Economics and History