Yesterday, October 5th, was World Teachers Day. It is held every year on this day since 1994 to celebrate the anniversary of the adoption of the 1966 UNESCO Recommendation concerning the Status of Teachers, which benchmarks the rights and expectations of all teachers around the globe.

  Teachers, throughout history, have played the important role of nurturing our children with not only knowledge but also core values and life principles. In ways, this means that they oversee our country’s future, and therefore have great responsibility on their shoulders.

  For instance, an average primary school teacher in the UK would have to teach every subject in school for his/ her year group, from Art to English to Maths. Therefore, they must be very familiar with the curriculum to ensure that students get accurate information on all the topics. Just when you think this is hard enough, there are about a million more things for teachers to worry about in regard to the children. Firstly, they often need to adjust their tone, delivery, and way of teaching according to every child’s specific needs, meaning that they must be extremely flexible and adaptable. They would also have to be very understanding and patient with individuals needing more explanation and tutoring to fully understand the material. In addition, they have to deal with children’s social needs and actions. This is especially prominent in younger years as their immaturity often results in physical and verbal conflicts among classmates. This could be challenging as it is incredibly difficult for teachers as children would not fully understand moral and social expectations. Seeing as the previous examples, teachers not only have to be excellent in teaching academic curriculum but also be an all-rounded, well-equipped human beings.

  Despite the great challenges of being a teacher, there are great advantages and rewards in doing so. As a teacher, you are literally ‘sowing the seeds’ for the country’s future elites. This is not to be undervalued as it could possibly change how the world is in the future. Obviously, seeing your students achieve top grades in their GCSEs or A level proves your ability, but many teachers believe academic success is only a speck of dust in the vast journey of life. I interviewed Mr Matthew Barrett from Shrewsbury School, who said “I find the biggest joy in seeing students come back after school and seeing what they have become.”  He has been a teacher and housemaster for decades and has past pupils in a multitude of sectors. He further believes that seeing them doing well in life is one of the best rewards or commendations you can have as a teacher.

   In conclusion, teachers are wonderful people who put in maximum effort day in day out to support the future generation. Therefore, let’s use this opportunity to give your current and past teachers the gratitude and respect these unsung heroes deserve.