Celebrating World Teachers' Day

Today, Friday 5th of October, is World Teachers' Day. For many people this day will pass by uneventfully, without any knowledge of the significance of the day for those who work in the profession. However, for teachers, this is one day a year in which all their efforts and many hours of planning, preparation, marking and all the other aspects of teaching are recognised, appreciated and acknowledged. Speaking as a teacher, I know I may never see the impact my teaching has on a student's life and their attitude to learning but I gain great satisfaction knowing that my teaching can and does play a pivotal role in a person's educational journey and their personal development.

Newly qualified teachers often join the profession highly motivated with high ideals of transforming the lives their learners. However, the reality of what is involved in a career in education soon hits home, the demands of parental expectation, government targets and management, coupled with the amount of paperwork becomes so overwhelming that skilled and talented teachers leave the profession burnt out and disillusioned. Some may turn to private education as this may offer a more realistic workload. Self-employed teachers face many of the same challenges as those who work in the public sector but with the additional difficulty of managing your own workload and balancing running a business with having a private, personal life.

I know from personal experience how the daily routine of teaching can obscure the bigger picture that we do indeed make a difference and that each and every lesson we teach makes a difference to someone's life. I love receiving feedback from my learners telling me of their success and I treasure the knowledge that I helped them to get to where they are now. So, on this special day for us, I hope that all my fellow teaching colleagues know that they are valued and appreciated for all their hard work. I wish you all "Happy Teachers' Day!".