Teacher’s Day: Honouring the Journey from Blackboards to Digital Classroom

For every word that you can read, write and understand, is the effort of a teacher who did not give up on you! As you grow up, the hustling lifestyle takes you away from the years of your foundation. That’s exactly why you might miss out on showing appreciation for your dear teachers. However, now is the time to go back to these amazing souls and thank them for their sheer dedication. Teacher’s Day is the perfect opportunity to show your gratitude and thankfulness to the ones who started right from ABC!

Remember the days you went to school and forgot to complete your homework? It was a teacher who disciplined you! Also, how about the picnic at one of the tea gardens where you were injured? Again, a teacher held you and healed you. Teacher’s Day is not only a mere day of celebration but a lot about honouring the soft-hearted souls who prepared you for the future. So, let’s dive into Teacher’s Day and ways to celebrate it.

Why 5th September and not any other date?

You must be wondering as to why Teacher’s Day is specifically celebrated on 5th September. As you talk about Teacher’s Day, you cannot forget the legendary Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan. He was an Indian politician, a philosopher and a great teacher to many students. It is important to note that he was also the second president of India, thereby leading the way in the country’s development.

Being the president as well as a teacher loved by many, a few students and friends approached Dr. Radhakrishnan on his birthday. They demanded a celebration to enjoy the day with complete fun. However, instead of only celebrating his birthday, he declared it as Teacher’s Day. Since September 5, 1888, people across the country have observed the date to honour educators.

Biography of Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan

Dr. Sarvapalli Radhakrishnan, the backbone of the Indian education system, channelled his energies towards teaching and impacting the world. Let’s step into his life details to better understand his contributions towards the developing nation.

1904: Graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree from the Presidency College, Chennai.

1909: Attained Master’s degree in Philosophy from the Madras Christian College. 

1918: Received love and respect for publishing his work, “The Philosophy of Rabindranath Tagore”.

1921: Initiated his career as a professor of Philosophy at the University of Mysore.

1929: Served as the Vice-Chancellor of Andhra University. 

1931: Served as the Vice-Chancellor of Banaras Hindu University. 

1939: Elected as the President of the Indian Philosophical Congress.

1946: Served as India’s first Ambassador to the Soviet Union. 

1947: Served the seat as the Chairman of the University Grants Commission (UGC).

1952: Elected as the Vice President of India.

1962: Served the seat as the President of India.

As Dr. Radhakrishnan served the most important seats in the education industry, he impacted countless lives. He believed in a holistic approach to learning. Emotional understanding, morals and spiritual awakening were crucial for the development of an individual. He studied Western education well, only to lay the foundation for a culture-based education. 

It was his firm belief that the integration of mind and soul should lead to the process of self-discovery. As he embraced vocational training, he also paid noteworthy attention to critical thinking, active listening, philosophical inquiry and shaping the character. Inspiring the teachers to be role models, this legendary man transformed the background of universal education.

Diving into the significance of Teachers’ Day

Every teacher makes a remarkable impact in not only educating students but also building a powerful nation. If you come across a group of students, every child in it is distinctive. While some children love math, some simply cannot do calculations. That’s when teachers step into the worlds of learners to guide each one of them.  

You must have been inspired by a teacher to pursue a career of your choice, to face stage fear, to opt for a competition or to read a difficult paragraph. While these acts appear small in the schooling years, it is because of teachers that you can deliver presentations, read well, be the best in your field, attain multiple degrees and understand the world as one should. 

Students who are taught in a class under the observation of a teacher often step out to be leaders.  

From the notorious brats to the first benchers, teachers pay equal attention to all. Whether it is taking extra classes or travelling to another school for a competition, these educators do it with a smile. From giving extra candies to your favourite teachers on birthdays to crying out loud when you fail, teachers literally lay the foundation. As they fill your brains with thoughts of leadership, friendship, equality and love, you tend to carry these virtues for a lifetime. That’s also the reason why teachers lay the bricks for an ever-lasting skyscraper of successful individuals. 

Dr. Radhakrishnan believed that teachers should be the best minds in the country. It is only then that they can create aspiring artists, filmmakers, musicians, businessmen and a pool of talented people. He always inspired people to honour teachers, as they are the pillars of a student’s success. With his excellent knowledge in teaching and philosophy, he also delivered the significance of education. 

You might not necessarily receive an opportunity to thank your school, college or university teachers. However, teacher’s day is a great day to seek their blessings for triumph in your endeavours. It is time to narrate your stories of ups and downs to teachers. You are certain to realise that they would still have ever-motivating statements for you!

Exciting rituals and celebrations

Teacher’s Day is the best day for teachers as well as students. While everyone reports to the educational institution, the vibe on this day is all different! The day embraces many performances, competitions and a lot more.

1. Dressing as Teachers

Every institute follows a unique practice and it may differ from one location to another. However, Teacher’s Day in many schools is also considered to be a leisure day for educators. Students are selected to dress as teachers and each one is assigned a class. These students, girls and boys, adorn themselves in traditional sarees and suits. 

They try their best to mimic the teachers they are playing the role of. Students are then required to handle the class for a few hours. This activity allows students to understand the struggle and everyday life of teachers. It allows them to delve into the challenges teachers face while handling multiple students at the same time. Sometimes, parents are also invited to act as teachers for primary-level students.

2. Live Performances

Most schools and colleges celebrate Teacher’s Day with enthusiasm and fun. In fact, students dedicate extra hours to practice singing, dancing or musical instruments. Students go through a rigorous training process to perform their best on the big day. An open ground, an audio-visual room or a hall are considered for the celebration.

Students then showcase their creativity by presenting awe-inspiring dance moves. Even the music is selected after a good thought process. If you ever get to be a part of the celebration, you witness performances of songs of thankfulness and gratitude. Solo as well as group performances truly elevate the vibe of the day! 

Along with dance, some students showcase their musical skills. Teachers get to hear melodious rhythms of pride and appreciation. Some schools might also have students playing musical instruments on this day. 

Let’s not forget the artistic students who work effortlessly for theatre acts. Many plays are dedicated to displaying the positive outlook of teachers. Certain schools or colleges also organise these performances in the form of competitions. Such a move inspires students to put their best foot forward.

3. Gifting

Gifting is surely an ancient tradition on many occasions, including Teacher’s Day. However, the day is more special as gifts are specifically curated for teachers. At times, students are responsible for making something for their class teachers. This could include anything from homemade cookies to a card or an origami flower. Similarly, many students bring rose flowers to honour their favourite teachers on this big day. 

Apart from students, even schools and colleges play a major role in celebrating Teacher’s Day. The higher authorities generally opt for gift hampers for lovely educators. These hampers can be super useful, including diaries, a lunch box, an insulated bottle, mugs and so on. Gifting just goes as diverse as possible, all thanks to creative minds. 

4. Card Making

While many students prepare cards for teachers, the day is seen as an artistic opportunity. Many schools organise a card-making competition. Students gather in the activity area and you can see colours, pencil colours, crayons, markers and everything artistic all around. 

Such an initiative inspires students to express their gratitude in a creative way. Selective schools also allow learners to further distribute the cards to their favourite teachers. It sure is an exciting way to honour the educators on behalf of their students.

5. Cake Cutting and Games

Teacher’s Day is indeed a joyful occasion in most educational institutions. Whether it is celebrating with a tuition teacher or the ones in college, the fun has to be the top element! Cake cutting is an integral part of the ceremony. 

Students gather in the staffroom and join in for the cake-cutting ceremony. It is either cut by a student representative or the principal. In many cases, all teachers stand around the cake to show their joy! The cake is then distributed among students, teaching staff and non-teaching staff. 

No teacher’s day can ever end without the inclusion of games. They create an engaging atmosphere as teachers are kept away from checking books, assignments and everyday work. Fun quizzes, musical chairs and passing the parcel are often included in the ceremony. Winning teachers are then honoured with chocolates or gifts.

6. Award Ceremony

You must have heard of the fun and quirky awards on many occasions. Teacher’s Day is no alien to this amazing activity. Entertaining titles are prepared by students or staff members.

The award titles can be anything creative, including Miss Charming, Mr. Incredible, Captain Brave, King of Quizland, Queen of Numbers, The Artistic Prince and so on. Depending on personal attributes, you can definitely plan this activity with your loving educators.

Global Observance of Teacher’s Day

From taking you to botanical gardens for a day trip to choosing historical spots like the Victoria Memorial or Taj Mahal for a tour, teachers do a lot more than words can express! Did you know there’s an International Teacher’s Day too? It is celebrated on 5th October across the globe. 

The date holds immense significance as it remembers the signing of recommendations by the International Labour Organisation and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation. The day embraces and honours the transformative future that teachers create. It also lays importance on the resources needed for the development of educators.

When it comes to Teacher’s Day across the globe, all countries celebrate on different dates. With each date associated with a historic movement, the celebrations still remain the same. In countries like China, Japan and Russia, students express gratitude through small gifts, flowers or cards. In countries in the United States, special ceremonies are organised in the light of appreciating the educators.

Modern-day celebrations

As we move towards an ever-developing nation, the teacher’s day celebration is constantly transforming. With advanced technology, you can witness a significant change in the way it is celebrated. Earlier, students created handmade greeting cards, which are now being made on designing applications. Students are also encouraged to use different colour themes, elements and pictures of respective teachers to make the most stunning e-greeting cards.

Many schools, colleges and universities also have their pages on various social media applications. This enables students to go as creative as possible. In today’s time, students create engaging videos, graphics and exciting posts on Facebook and Instagram. 

The usage of digital platforms is now transforming the way students and the world perceive teachers. It is more like an entire world showcasing gratitude on a bigger and better digital platform instead of a classroom. Did you know some educational institutions also consider heritage walks and visits to the fossil parks and museums on this day? 

The world is on the path of awareness! Teacher’s Day celebration transcends the ordinary ceremonies. Universities as well as government authorities take active participation in considering the development of teachers. Many initiatives start right from the school, which might include advanced training for educators, better facilities in school, flexible working hours and good compensatory benefits.

Quotes and teachings

“Teaching is a very noble profession that shapes the character, calibre and future of an individual. If the people remember me as a good teacher, that will be the biggest honour for me”. – APJ Abdul Kalam.

“Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn”.  – Benjamin Franklin

“Education is the best friend. An educated person is respected everywhere. Education beats beauty and youth”. – Chanakya

“The main objective of teaching is not to give explanations, but to knock at the doors of the mind”. – Rabindranath Tagore

“The fitness of the pupil is shown in his love for the acquisition of knowledge, his willingness to receive instruction, his reverence for learned and virtuous men, his attendance upon the teacher and his execution of orders”. – Dayananda Saraswati

Famous gurus, scholars and teachers have always expressed their vision through quotes and sayings. The above-mentioned quotes stand as a testament to a teacher’s enduring patience and love for a pupil. It talks about how education can be your magical wand to turn downs into ups and lows into highs. As you talk about Teacher’s Day, remember that every quote by the greatest minds is a way to endless learning and exploration.

A Rose for Your Teacher!

Teacher’s Day is a celebration of great leaders who shape our lives every day. Whether honouring Guru Gobind Singh on Prakash Purab or showing gratitude on Rabindranath Tagore Jayanti, this day pays tribute to those who inspire and guide us. From Sant Kabir Das to Dr. Radhakrishnan, contemporary leaders have shaped the education system of India.

Teacher’s Day is a grand celebration of the virtues, values and morals deployed on students by loving souls. Schools, colleges and coaching institutes are decorated with balloons and decorative pieces. As you move ahead and higher in life, it is always a good idea to look back at the faces that made you a successful individual!