Celebrating Teachers!

CEBU, Philippines – Teachers serve as the second parents of children at school. Teachers educate, guide, discipline, and protect kids like real parents do. Today, as we must on any other day, we celebrate World Teachers Day.

In an article at www.education.nt.gov.au, the United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) started World Teachers’ Day on October 5, 1994. Today, for the 20th year, over 100 countries celebrate teachers. The celebration acknowledges the good efforts of teachers. Indiantimes.com adds that celebration is a collective gesture of appreciation for the contributions of teachers to the human community.

The Philippines is very much one in this celebration of teachers. Our students give their teachers a card inscribed with touchy quotes and messages to convey their appreciation and gratitude. Some also give gifts, often something hand-crafted by the giver, to convey acknowledgment of the teachers’ contributions to his or her personal development.  Others choose to present colorful flowers, a token for love and admiration.

With the advent of the communications technology, it has become all too common to simply send teachers a text message wishing them a “Happy Teachers’ Day!” This way is preferred by many because it is convenient and instantaneous; at just a press of a button the message is sent and received in seconds.

It has indeed become so much easier to greet our dear teachers on their day. These living heroes deserve acknowledgment. Theirs is not simply a job – it is a vocation. Many of our teachers could very well land a better-paying job elsewhere, but they choose to stay with their pupils and students, because the young learners have become part of their – the teachers’ – families.

Truth is, teachers deserve everyone’s gratitude and appreciation not only today but all the time. They need to know that they matter in their students’ lives. They need to know that they have not labored in vain.