September 5, the birth anniversary of Dr. Sarvapalli Radhakrishnan, the second President of India and a great teacher, is celebrated as the Teacher’s Day in India. When Dr. Radhakrishnan became the president of India in 1962, some of his students and friends approached him and requested him to allow them to celebrate 5th September, his “birthday”. In reply, Dr. Radhakrishnan said, “instead of celebrating my birthday separately, it would be my proud privilege if September 5 is observed as Teachers’ day”. The request showed Dr.Radhakrishnan’s love for the teaching profession. From then onwards, the day has been observed as Teachers’ Day in India.
Teachers’ Day Celebrations
In some countries, Teachers’ Days are intended to be special days for the appreciation of teachers. Some of them are holidays while others are celebrated during working days. Teacher’s Day in India is a tribute to the hard work that is put by the teacher all year long to educate a child. Teachers and students report to school as usual but the usual activities and classes are replaced by activities of celebration, thanks and remembrance. At some schools on this day, the responsibility of teaching is taken up by the senior students as an appreciation for their teachers. They go to the junior classes, teach the subjects of their choice and try to maintain discipline as their teachers would have. In a lecture or two, the students and teachers interact in the auditorium and exchange messages of wisdom, knowledge and success. On this particular day, teachers are made to feel how important they really are, to the students who’ll become the citizens of tomorrow and hold the key to the future of the nation.
Who is a Teacher? What is Education?
This is a question that has been bothering me since my senior secondary certification days. Things aren’ better today, nor do I hold the hope that they’ll get better in the near future. This question bothers me because I don’t know the answer is false. I know and understand it well. But the said part is that those who implement education in India don’t understand it. The controllers of the Indian Education System don’t get it.
Who is a teacher? What is Education?
I’ll quote an excerpt from the Indian President, A.P.J Abdul Kalam’s address on the eve of Teachers’ Day in India , 2003.
…I am reminded of my childhood days when I was studying in 8th class at the age of 13. I had a teacher, Shri Siva Subramania Iyer. He was one of the very good teachers in our school. All of us loved to attend his class and hear him. One day he was teaching about a bird’s flight. He drew a diagram of a bird on the blackboard depicting the wings, tail and the body structure with the head. He explained how birds create the lift and fly. He also explained to us how they change direction while flying. For nearly 25 minutes he gave the lecture with various information such as lift, drag, how the birds fly in a formation of 10, 20 or 30. At the end of the class, he wanted to know whether we understood how birds fly. I said, I did not understand. When I said this, the teacher asked the other students whether they understood or not. Many students said that they also did not understand. He did not get upset by our response since he was a committed teacher.
Our teacher said that he would take all of us to the sea shore. That evening the whole class was at the sea shore of Rameswaram. We enjoyed the roaring sea waves knocking at the sandy hills in the pleasant evening. Birds were flying with sweet chirping voice. He showed the sea birds in formations of 10 to 20 numbers. We saw the marvelous formations of birds with a purpose and we were all amazed. He showed us the birds and asked us to see that when the birds fly, what they looked like. We saw the wings flapping. He asked us to look at the tail portion with the combination of flapping wings and twisting tail. We noticed closely and found that the birds in that condition flew in the direction they desired. Then he asked us a question, “Where the engine is and how it is powered”?
The bird is powered by its own life and the motivation of what it wants. All these things were explained to us within fifteen minutes. We all understood the dynamics from this practical example. How nice it was. Our teacher was a great teacher; he could give us a theoretical lesson coupled with a live practical example available in nature. This is real teaching. I am sure many of the teachers in schools and colleges will follow this example…
…In an integrated way it can be said, that any enlightened human being can be created by three unique characteristics. One is moral value system. That I got from my father the hard way. Secondly, the teacher becoming a role model. Not only does the student learn, but the teacher shapes his life with great dreams and aims. Finally, the education and learning process has to culminate in the creation of professional capability leading to confidence and will power to make a design, to make a product, to make a system, bravely combating many problems…
When we are kids, or we are young and wild, or old.. When we are watching the birds fly.. When we are sitting in the park listening to what the silent nature says.. Whether we are reading a news item in a newspaper or a blog post on the internet.. WE ARE ALWAYS LEARNING some thing or the other at all points of our life. I just wish all your teachers are so good and make you a better human being at each turn.
Happy Learning. Happy Teachers Day.
This is a very good, nice, interesting and heart touching post.In my opinion teachers are near to God, because they are the persons who tells the children about the god and everything in the world.
————–
marry
Blazeinfotech
Until this year, when my youngest just started high school, I considered myself a teacher. But I guess once we are parents we are forever teachers!
Wills latest published blog-post ………. Organic Food Prices Cause Indigestion
Interesting information about Indian Flags. We think that Flags and discussions about US Flags help us understand better Country Flags information.
A teacher is someone who guides his/her student, motivates and then it urn empowers him or her as the case may be.
Harrys latest published blog-post ………. Bike Design with an iPod Dock
it’s just right really that teachers get their day. they do valuable work, for relatively little pay. in fact, aside from getting their own day, they should also receive better benefits, and more support.
koujis latest published blog-post ………. haiku poem: downpour
There is already a huge shortage of teachers and this is going to be our biggest challenge in becoming a developed nation because without education, we cannot move forward. Read more:
http://blog.giveindia.org/2008/09/help-wanted-25lac-teachers.html
hey! i was wondering as if u could had added some cool stuff about teachers. i mean about ur school teachers..
by the way. nice blog
kaushals latest published blog-post ………. MTV roadies 6.0 Advice: what not to say at auditions
This is a great article. Teachers are not people who have you memorize things you’ll forget next week. They don’t necessarily work in a school. Teachers are those that implant knowledge which helps you grow as a person as we’ll as helps you learn the subject you are studying.
India– home to more teachers of every kind than anywhere else on earth: I love it! I just can’t wait to go back every time I leave. It’s crazy and maddening, but I love the intensity and volubility of the people. On average, a country full of very sharp, friendly people. Imo the 21st century belongs to India.
Toms latest published blog-post ………. Zodiac Matches for Men Born Under the Pig Sign
I live in the USA and there is no teachers’day to my knowledge. I really think it’s important to emphasize appreciation for teachers because they really pave the way for the future of our children. Without good teachers, an otherwise well-mannered young one could lose interest in school and not progress in life.
daniels latest published blog-post ………. Have You Heard Of Glow In The Dark Contacts?
In the UK our teachers get little to no respect, in general. It’s nice to see teachers being appreciated somewhere:)
Great post, thanks a lot 😉
I wish there could be a teachers´ day everywhere! They all work so hard and don´t get enough credit for what they have to do every day..both of my parents are teachers and I´m pretty sure they would love a day dedicated to their profession. Lesley
I am sure teachers have a big responsibility to upbring a good generation which could contribute in a country’s development. I am not a teacher but I love to teach something to my son. Perhaps teaching is included in the basic instincts of a normal human being.
My thoughts are with all the teachers in Mumbai, India today. I hope they are safe.
Davids latest published blog-post ………. ifbyphone Raises $4.6 Million in New Round of Venture Capital Funding
Oh wow, I thought Teacher’s day was only in the USA, I guess I am wrong. It is like they say… you learn something new everyday!
Wish we had a Teacher appreciation day in New Zealand…as a teacher myself, I could totally use another holiday, or a day where people pay homage to my and my colleges… 🙂
Simons latest published blog-post ………. Rugby Bleep Test
Strange that we have teacher days on different dates in different countries 🙂
I always liked to study so I remember mostly good teachers in my younger years.
Kriss latest published blog-post ………. Samsung LN52A750 52-Inch 1080p DLNA LCD HDTV
Yea, i like the idea of a teachers day. It should be used to celebrate the good teachers. There are too few in todays society at least in america. For some reason the system doesn’t really put them out anymore. Good teachers made kids want to learn not force them to learn something they don’t care about.
yeah, teaching is a very respectable profession, although they do not get much respect themselves…. and it is quite sad. teachers day is a great thing, although it does not help them much in terms of the stigma that they have attached
Some teachers are great, some isnt, as you grow up, you will learn, the higher education you get the worse teacher you get
I remember celebrating teacher day in middle school. But I totally forgot about it since then, silly me.
I owe so much to my teachers. Several of them really had a big influence on my life even though I never would have shared that at the time. It’s got to be a tough job, but very rewarding.
gregs latest published blog-post ………. Eye Glass Frames: Don’t Get Ripped Off
Teacher’s Day is a great way to give respect to the people who are responsable for education. I feel teacher should get a lot of respect in our society. In my country, teachers get low salaries. And it is an indication that we don’t take the education seriously enough.
Teachers day is very important, because the teachers are one of the most important influencers in our lives.
Jeans latest published blog-post ………. Easy to make grilled Beer Brats
Teachers have always inspired me, we don’t give them enough credit. I hate the fact that there are alot of children who disrespect them too.
Boris Saids latest published blog-post ………. Boris Said Daytona 500
lol never knew there was a teachers day, good to see teacher can be respected too
People really underestimate the importance of teachers in society. A dedicated day is nice, but there really needs to be better salaries and benefits for them.
My compliments and salutes to those senior students who took on the responsibility of teaching in appreciating their teachers on this special day. I think this is a very healthy practice for the kids as they will then be able to learn about responsibilities and also be able to appreciate the hard work that their teachers are doing. It’ll be extremely beneficial if this practice can also be extended to non-teacher’s day to create an environment for character and leadership development for the children.
judy
http://www.child-central.com
Hi
I`m a school teacher and im glad that there is a teacher day on india also
Ganhar Dinheiro Onlines latest published blog-post ………. Ganhar Dinheiro Facil na Internet
In germany our teachers dont get enought respect, in general. It’s nice to see teachers being appreciated somewhere.
Billardfans latest published blog-post ………. Wein und Wissen
overall the teachers in germany get respected but there are some not respected. students should respect their teachers because they learn alot stuff for their teachers. Its nice to see a day of etacher in india , germany should have it too.
Sportfans latest published blog-post ………. Fotoalben für Hochzeit & mehr
its nice to see the teachers have their own day in india, other contries should follow india and make an day of teachers too , i think evrybody should respect the teacher , they bring us the known we know today.
the teachers are an important thing in our life, without them we woulnd’t learn how to learn something , they teach us like everything to learn later more and more. so it is nice to see they have an day of teacher in india.
WitzFans latest published blog-post ………. Fotoalben
Teacher’s Day is a great way to give respect to the people who are responsible for education. I feel teacher should get a lot of respect in our society. In my country, teachers get low salaries. And it is an indication that we don’t take the education seriously enough.Thanks
wow , its nice to see there is an day of teacher in india, other contries should follow india. teacher are people who we really should respect ´.
Some teachers are great, some aren’t, as you grow up, you will learn, the higher education you get, they more to get sceptical about teacher and their abilities.
This time of the year is really great for teachers to have their life remembered, living or dead. Let us remember that we are what we are now because our teachers imparted their lives to us.
Its nice to see India got an day of teacher, other countries should make that too to give the teachers the respect they should get.
Privatschülers latest published blog-post ………. Elektrotechnik – Energiesysteme an der TFH in Berlin
We should remember them, our teachers and this kind of acknowledgment to what they have shared to us is just a great way to give them our gratitude.
Felixs latest published blog-post ………. My Hectic Capiznon Bloggers 2009 Assessment
its nice thats the indian have an day of the teacher, other contries should follow them because we have to repsect the teachers.
Sometimes i think the teachers don’t get enough respect in our country, thats why i think should we make an day of teacher too, to give the teachers the respect they should get.
Rotweins latest published blog-post ………. Cabernet-Sauvignon
the teachers are an important thing in our life, without them we woulnd’t learn how to learn something , they teach us like everything to learn later more and more. so it is nice to see they have an day of teacher in india.
A very good post buddy about the background of the teacher’s day .. although most of us Indians know about it but it is a good way of informing others about it .. great post.. keep going
MTV Roadiess latest published blog-post ………. MTV Roadies 6.0 5th April 2009 Episode Videos
Teachers usually forget their children but we students can remember them. That’s why this kind of event is an opportunity for us to give honor to those who have been so good (or even not so good) to us. They have done something on our overall being. Actually become a PHP programmer because of my teacher and I am thankful to him.
Last Teacher who have get great Honour, Today’s teaching is a profession for money making only
In some countries the Teacher Day celebrates at September 1, what a coincidence.
Williams latest published blog-post ………. Free Skype VoIP client in Nokia phones
I am a teacher and I liked the quote you added into the post. A good teacher keeps their patience and explores different ways to explain concepts to their students. I think teachers should be celebrated much more often than just one day a year.
Nice post, i enjoyed reading it immensely.
-Caroline
Carolines latest published blog-post ………. Harley Sunglasses: The New Mens Favorite
Almost everyone can remember their favourite teacher from school, it’s normally someone we looked up to and respected. Good teachers are still essential for ensuring a good education for future generations.
Sadly, in the UK at least, teaching is seen as a less and less attractive career (for many reasons) and the government is struggling to recruit good teachers.
Nevertheless, Happy Teachers Day!
I still see my teachers from long past, and they still have that motherly outlook. I was blessed to have such a great set of teachers and mentors that looked out for me. Happy Teachers Day.
Hi, this is a great post. Personally, I think Teacher’s Day should be every day. As an ESL teacher in southern Italy, I really try to make the differences in students’ lives today that will make them employable tomorrow. Hope every teacher has a Happy day every day, no matter where you are!
I applaud all the teachers. Their work is really hard yet they usualy don’t get paid much even though it’s one of the most important functions in every country.
Marian Boczeks latest published blog-post ………. Restorer 2000