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On World Teachers Day, Share the Love

Friday, October 04, 2013

Did you know that World Teacher Day is celebrated every October 5th by more than 100 countries around the world? Tough luck for teachers that it falls on a Saturday this year. So, come Monday, don’t forget to show some serious love!

Being a teacher is hard. As the parent of a seven year old, let me say THANK YOU. As an advocacy attorney, I ran a lot of grassroots campaigns, and educated citizens on a variety of environmental and legal topics…but I was educating adults…who wanted to learn. Those of you who teach our children are true heroes.

Teachers help our kids build academic and emotional skills. They sing, they laugh, they wipe snotty noses and bandage bloody knees. They’re roll models, leaders, who have a great impact on who our kids will grow to be. Since 1994, in honor of this noble profession, UNESCO and Education International have established World Teacher Day to raise awareness and appreciation for the vital contributions that teachers make in society and our lives every day.

Help Your Kids Show Some Appreciation

Help your kids show some love. Ask them what makes each teacher special. And, explain why it’s important that they tell those teachers what they told you. Express it with a poem, a song, a hug...or in my daughter’s case, a book (she’s really into making flip books these days). Make a gift, buy a gift, have them do something to show that they care and they know their teacher cares too.

World Teacher Day, artwork by Jordan Sternberg (age 7)

Small Gifts That Teachers Can Use

Teachers, we know that you’ll love all the home-made masterpieces that are delivered to you with glowing smiles and eager faces. And, we hope that you’ll cherish these gifts for at least some time before they make their way to the circular filing bin in the corner (it’s ok, seriously, no trove can hold that many treasures).

But, what might you really need? Or want? We know most schools won’t allow you to take expensive items, and we’re not trying to buy our kids grades. So, here are a few items that teachers might like, that will help the school and kids, as well. How about a new journal for all of their notes? Paper Thinks makes colorful, elegant, recycled leather journals and envelope folios, while ecojot makes funky, graphic journals from 100% recycled materials and soy inks. Palomino Blackwings (the pencil of choice for artists from John Steinbeck to Frank Lloyd Write) have replaceable erasers, so they’ll get through the job of marking all of those papers. Or, save your teacher’s brain. Give them Kitobashi highlighter pencils (if anyone’s going to be a little light-headed, let’s make sure it’s from a organic glass of wine, and not stinky ink).

So, let's raise a glass in honor of teachers! Cheers to you, for all that you do.

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Comments

Deena Bugden commented on 22-Nov-2013 05:30 AM

This is the right site for everyone who would like to understand this topic. You understand so much its almost tough to argue with you (not that I personally would want to_HaHa). You definitely put a new spin on a topic that has been discussed for years. Great stuff, just great!