MARK OF TRIBUTE
Over 100 countries observe World Teachers' Day on 5th October since 1994. By celebrating Teacher's Day, we convey the message that we care for our teachers, just as they do. Celebrating the festival is the recognition of the devotion, with which, teachers undertake the responsibility of educating a child academically as well as morally. In India 5th September is celebrated as Teachers' day as a mark of tribute to the contribution made by teacher to the society. It is a special day in the life of every child. It is the day set aside to remember our teachers for the time they spent with us, for what they taught us and finally for what we are today. 5th September is the birthday of a great teacher Dr. Sarvapalli Radhakrishnan, who was a staunch believer of education, and was the well-known diplomat, scholar, president of India and above all a teacher.
He was the first Vice President of India (1952-1962), and the second President of India (1962-1967). Among the many honours he received were a British knighthood (1931) and the Bharat Ratna (1954). Radhakrishnan was one of India's most acclaimed scholars of comparative religion and philosophy. He is considered through his efforts to have built a bridge between East and West by having shown the philosophical systems of each tradition to be comprehensible within the terms of the other When he became President, some of his students and friends requested him to allow them to celebrate his birthday. He replied, “Instead of celebrating my birthday, it would be my proud privilege if September 5 is observed as Teachers’ Day.” Teaching is like no other profession. As a teacher, you will wear many hats. A teacher must be a communicator, a disciplinarian, a conveyor of information, an evaluator, a classroom manager, a counsellor, a member of many teams and groups, a decision-maker, a role-model, and a surrogate parent.
Each of these roles requires practice and skills that are often not taught in teacher preparation programs. Teachers mould the lives that they influence because the lessons learned from teachers remain with their students throughout life. We should always respect our teachers. Teachers need encouragement and support from the community to feel that their devotion to students is appreciated. Teacher's day is now one of the occasions that is looked forward by the teachers and students alike as on this occasion its not only when teachers are praised but also around various schools students dress up as a representation of their teachers and take various lectures that are assigned to the teachers they represent. This creates an understanding between the teachers and their students. Teachers have always been the guiding force for the students, who have inspired them to move ahead and achieve much in life. Teacher's Day is the right time for the students to express their feelings of thankfulness and gratitude towards the teachers. It is a time when students show their affection to them. A true teacher is not someone who not only just teaches academic lessons to his/her students but also he/she is like a guide, who helps the students in each and every sphere of life, by giving the right advice. They are future makers. None of the achievers in this world has attained a feat without the guidance of a teacher.