NATIONAL TEACHER APPRECIATION DAY!
Its May 9th! National Teacher Appreciation Day! We at Alterra Realty Group are aware that teachers play a critical role in educating and shaping our children: the future leaders of our country. They are kind, patient, hard-working, dedicated and understanding professionals that mold our children’s lives in a positive direction. We entrust our children with the teachers, and they affect their lives on a daily basis. This is an ode to them.
History
Political and educational leaders began discussions for a day to honor teachers in 1944. In 1953, Eleanor Roosevelt persuaded the 81st Congress to proclaim National Teachers’ Day. Later congress declared March 7, 1980, as National Teacher Day. The National Education Association continued to observe Teacher Day on the first Tuesday in March until 1985 when the National PTA established Teacher Appreciation Week as the first full week of May. The NEA Representative Assembly then voted to make the Tuesday of that week National Teacher Day.
The National Education Association (NEA) describes National Teacher Day as “a day for honoring teachers and recognizing the lasting contributions they make to our lives”.
In many countries, Teachers’ Day is a special day for the appreciation of teachers, and may include celebrations to honor them for their special contributions in a particular field area, or the community in general. The date on which Teachers’ Day is celebrated varies from country to country. Teachers’ days in different countries are distinct from World Teachers’ Day, which is celebrated on 5 October.
The idea of celebrating Teachers’ Day took root in many countries during the 20th century; in most cases, they celebrate a local educator or an important milestone in education (for example, Argentina has commemorated Domingo Faustino Sarmiento’s death on 11 September since 1915, while India has celebrated the birthday of Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan (5 September) since 1962, although Hindus, Jain’s and Buddhists have been honoring teachers by celebrating Guru Purnima for centuries. This is the primary reason why countries celebrate this day on different dates, unlike many other International Days.
Here’s What Teachers Really Want for Teacher Appreciation Day .
- To hear from their students and former students. A handwritten note would be great, but they would be just as thrilled with an email.
- They also want kids popping their heads into our room between classes telling them they’re awesome. Or that they made them realize how wonderful it is to escape into a good book. Or how their classes have made them want to go out and fight for justice in an unjust world.
- They want to hear from the parents of their students as well, so they can tell them how far their children have come under the teachers tutelage. That they are confident, happy, and excited for school now.
- They want to hear from their administration.
- They want a faculty meeting that lasts only two minutes. “Thank you all for coming today,” the principal will say, “I just wanted to take a minute to tell you how amazing you are. You have one of the most challenging and most meaningful jobs in the world. Each day you help kids navigate the path to adulthood and shape them in ways that often go unappreciated. So, I want you to know how much we appreciate you. Now, get out of here and go enjoy the beautiful spring day. Don’t forget to grab your Starbucks gift card on the way out!”
- They want people to stop making poorly veiled, resentful comments about how nice it must be to have the summer off or to finish the workday at 3:00 in the afternoon. Teacher Appreciation Week coincides with the time of year when the whole population starts talking about summer. Just once im sure they would like to hear, “Boy, you must be exhausted from such an intense school year. I hope you get some time to rejuvenate over the summer.”
- If people don’t have time for all this, teachers would appreciate a random gift card.
- Yes, they would want that gift of a tiny bit of unexpected gift card money for coffee, or iTunes, or dinner out. (Try not to give teachers gift cards for more school supplies.)
Be Sure to make your teacher feel special today!
Sincerely,
– Alterra Realty Group
