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| -Thanks to James DeMers per Pixabay for the lovely photo |
Today is the day to tell your favourite teacher how much you
appreciate them. How you do it, is up to
you, but here are some ideas from various countries. Not all of them celebrate on the same day. Some prefer the date of a prominent educator or other important influence on education.
- In the USA National Teacher’s Day is celebrated on the first Tuesday of the first full week in May. Students show their appreciation with cards and flowers and some communities organise special events.
- In South Korea, Teacher’s Day is celebrated in February with children bringing red carnations and small gifts.
- India celebrates on September 5, with students organising events and putting on drama performances, reciting poems and singing traditional songs. Senior students teach classes on the day, while former students may visit to pay their respects to their former teachers and bring them a rose.
- China celebrates on September 10,
with gifts, cards and flowers and ceremonies to honour teachers.
- Vietnam’s Teacher’s Day is not till November 20th when
both teachers and parents show their appreciation with gifts and events. Students usually prepare well in advance creating artwork and literature for their teachers. On the big day, they prepare food and have a big party. Sometimes students may also visit the teacher's home, bringing flowers or small gifts to show their respect.
- Bhutan recognises Teacher Day with formal ceremonies which include the gift of the white traditional scarf, symbolising respect and goodwill. There are cultural performances and games and students sometimes take classes to give teachers a break.
- I know we aren’t supposed to like
anything Russian at present, but I do like its Teacher’s Day celebrations
which are held on October 5. Education is held in extremely high regard in
Russia and so are teachers, even though they may be poorly paid.
Students decorate classrooms with flowers, balloons and posters. Older students lead classes for the day and children prepare songs and quotes. Then there are prizes, competitions and informal awards for things like “the teacher who is most fun,” or the one “who is most fashionable.”
Children bring small gifts such as chocolates or parents band together to give a teacher a larger gift. They also bring cakes, pies and salads. Sounds like fun to me.
You can see many more countries which have dedicated Teacher’s Days here.
UNESCO celebrates Teacher’s Day with awards and seminars to help them on their professional journey. This year’s theme is about "Valuing teachers' voices: towards a new social contract for education." The event will emphasize the importance of integrating teachers' perspectives into educational policies and fostering a supportive environment for their professional development.
A Lasting Impression
Teachers are among the first role models we encounter outside our own family. What they do and say, helps to shape our view of the world and our place therein, as well as giving us the life -long tools to make our way in it.
My sister has devoted her whole life to teaching and now that she’s retired and not in the best of health many of her former students come by, sometimes bringing their children and even their grandchildren. Many of them are former refugees for whom she was one of the few contacts on first arriving in Australia.
Some bring cakes or delicious food. Others bring plants and cuttings which she loves, and others have cut wood for her or mown her lawn, so she has certainly made an impression on so many students she has taught over the years.
You can take the Teacher out of the Classroom….
My sister may have retired from her formal teaching job almost 20 years ago, but she has never stopped teaching and encouraging others. As well as organising the U3A in her area for adult learners, particularly those who missed out on Tertiary Education, she is currently involved in putting on a Story Telling event in her community and in her ‘spare time’ (haha!) when she’s not writing books, being consulted on matters concerning seniors, or pottering about in her garden, she still runs classes on things like making cards with recycled materials.
Whether we acknowledge it or not, teachers play an important role in our lives. Why not write a note to one who inspired you? You could also nominate enthusiastic teachers for an award to encourage them to keep up their good work, or help to organise a school or local event.
A big Thank You to all my Teachers and especially my sister, who has always been a great inspiration to me,
Well done, Sis and Happy Birthday for next month if I don't get to see you!
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