World Teacher Day is an event not everyone has heard of or celebrated. This is because most school districts focus on Teacher Appreciation Week, often overlooking World Teacher Day.
Every year on Oct. 5, World Teachers’ Day honors the vital contributions and advancements teachers have made to our education system. This day was established in 1996 by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the International Labour Organization (ILO). We recognize the crucial role teachers play in shaping our future. However, many of their contributions to our school community go unrecognized.
World Teacher Day is a day of acknowledgement where teachers should be celebrated for their hard work both inside and outside the classroom. In addition to the classes they have to teach, teachers also spend their time helping students in numerous ways.
Counselor Arlene Quiñonez gives her insight into the dedication teachers put into their students and their careers.
“Teachers give so much of their time outside the classroom. They spend countless hours supporting students in ways that often go unrecognized, from planning lessons to attending events and providing extra help,” Quiñonez said.
These overlooked contributions help student events and interactions thrive. Without their help, school experiences such as club activities, school dances and assemblies would not run smoothly or even exist at all.
World Teacher Day recognizes the rights and responsibilities of teachers, ensuring they have proper teaching and learning conditions. Yet, the Recommendation concerning the Status of Teachers does not include the extra hours teachers put into helping our schools flourish.
AVID teacher Amy Holte shares her experience with staying after school to bring joy to our school community.
“Any of those extra pieces, like participating in the Lip Sync Battle, or coming to a dance, none of that is paid, right? It’s a part of what makes the school community run, so [teachers] want to do it. It’s not like we’re mad about it, but it is an overlooked piece,” Holte said.
Most professions offer paid overtime to their employees, providing compensation for the time they take out of their day to stay later at the office. However, teachers aren’t usually compensated for their overtime.
Holte discloses her frustrations regarding the education system for the lack of payment when teachers go above and beyond for their students.
“You don’t get paid for the extra stuff that you do most times, when in any other career you would, so that’s kind of a frustrating piece. A lot of these extra things we add, particularly the crazy extra things I add, I do it just for the love of things–not because I’m looking for a paycheck–but that is frustrating,” Holte said.
Additionally, teachers spend countless hours making sure students are successful in their curriculums, whether this is before or after school tutoring or just being there when a student needs someone to lend them an ear.
Our new principal, Scott Werner, shares how impactful teachers are to the students at MCHS.
“Every one of our teachers shows up to work because they want to take you from where you are and make you the best version of yourself, and I think sometimes it gets overshadowed with the content they’re teaching or the assignment they give,” Werner said.
Quiñonez also explains the importance of a teacher’s role in the education system.
“When a student feels supported and cared for, they are more likely to engage in learning and thrive both academically and personally,” Quiñonez said.
Quiñonez voices her appreciation towards teachers and their constant influence on students.
“Their dedication and the time they devote to their profession makes a lasting difference,” Quiñonez said.
Everything teachers do for their students should not go unnoticed. When looking back on their lives, students remember how helpful teachers were in their journey to adulthood and higher education.
