Teacher's Day
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Teacher's Day is a national holiday in some countries.
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USA
In the United States, this is a non-official holiday on the first Tuesday in May.
The National Education Association (NEA) describes National Teacher Day as "a day for honoring teachers and recognizing the lasting contributions they make to our lives" [1] (http://www.nea.org/teacherday/).
The NEA gives a history of National Teacher Day:
- "The origins of Teacher Day are murky. Around 1944 Arkansas teacher Mattye Whyte Woodridge began corresponding with political and education leaders about the need for a national day to honor teachers. Woodbridge wrote to Eleanor Roosevelt who in 1953 persuaded the 81st Congress to proclaim a National Teacher Day.
- NEA along with its Kansas and Indiana state affiliates and the Dodge City (Kan. ) local lobbied Congress to create a national day celebrating teachers. Congress declared March 7, 1980, as National Teacher Day for that year only.
- NEA and its affiliates continued to observe Teacher Day on the first Tuesday in March until 1985, when the National PTA established Teacher Appreciation Week as the first full week of May. The NEA Representative Assembly then voted to make the Tuesday of that week National Teacher Day." [2] (http://www.nea.org/teacherday/)
Albania
In Albania, this is a non-official holiday on March 7, right before Mother's Day, which is on March 8 (see also Public holidays in Albania).
China
In China, Teacher's Day is celebrated on September 10 since 1985, one of the three holidays established for professionals (the other two are for nurses and news reporters).
India
In India, Teacher's Day is celebrated on September 5, in honour of Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, its second President and a noted educationist. Traditionally on this day, the responsibility of teaching is taken up by the senior students while the teachers get a much-deserved break from their duties.
Latin America
The Latin American international Teacher's Day is on September 11, commemorating the death of Domingo Faustino Sarmiento, Argentine politician and respected educator. This establishment was agreed during 1943's Interamerican Conference on Education, held in Panama. Many Latin American countries, however, have a separate national Teacher's Day better accorded with their own history. As of September 7 of 1976, September 11 was also adopted as Teacher's Day in the US state of Massachusetts.In Brazil also is October 15.
In Mexico, on September 1917, the Federal Congress decreed May 15, as Teacher's Day. So May 15, 1918 was the first celebration of this holiday in Mexico.
Taiwan
In Taiwan it is celebrated on September 28 annually. It expresses respects to the labours and contributions of teachers to the Chinese society and commemorates the birth of Confucius, the model educator.
In 1939, the ROC Ministry of Education established the national holiday to be August 27, the attributed birthday of Confucius. In 1952, the Executive Yuan changed it September, stating that it was calculated to be the precise date in the Gregorian calendar.
The festival celebration occurs in the temples of Confucius around the island, known as the Grand Ceremony Dedicated to Confucius (祭孔大典). The ceremony began at 6 AM with drum beats. 54 musicians dress in rose with blue belts, 36 (or 64) dancers dress in yellow with green belts. They are led and followed by cermonial officers. Three animals -- cow, goat, and pig -- are sacrificed. The hair plucked from these sacrificed animals are called the Hairs of Wisdom.
In addition, local education institutes and civil offices award certain teachers for their excellence and positive influence.
External links
- Ceremonial dress in China (http://www.gxp.ks.edu.tw/teacher1/new_page_7.htm)
- Teacher's Day in Latin America (http://www.nalejandria.com/maestros-americanos) (Spanish)ru:День учителя