It was William Arthur Ward who once wrote “The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires”.

Today is Teacher's Day and the 2024 theme: Valuing Teacher Voices: Towards a New Social Contract for Education recognizes the valued  roles teachers play as they are the most important in-school factor when it comes to learning.

I come from a background of illustrious teachers on both my paternal and maternal side. Both my parents were teachers and I am married to a teacher. I have spent many years volunteering at summer lessons teaching social Studies, Civic Education and Government. By virtue of my many years of moderating and presiding over Model United Nations conferences and committees within and outside Nigeria, you can safely infer that I am also a teacher.

You will agree with me that In all, the teacher leaves you better than you were with your parents. In many cases, teachers have gone on to help people discover their destinies.

The age long maxim the teacher's reward is in heaven has become a dangerous philosophy, a breeding ground for contempt and the trivialization of the role of teachers. The reward for teachers need not be seen in tangible pecuniary terms, but in many intangibles - respect, dignity, recognition. The teacher stands towering above every other profession, because it is the cradle of both professional and vocational excellence.

But what do we find in today's society? A direct contempt for the person or the profession itself. They are constantly being owed salaries and, even when they retire, pensions don't come as it should. They continue to battle both natural and environmental forces to ensure that lessons are taught and comprehension achieved.

Teachers endure very harsh conditions of service and work assidiously to build the next generation. Well, this isn't new when we consider that even Jesus' authority was questioned, his teachings contested. But it does not embolden us to disregard our teachers.

It is he who hasn't been taught before that would not be grateful for lessons of life imparted by the teacher. Teachers, lead the motivation charge, helping people to unleash their passion and bear true gifts to the world. Teachers are the real MVPs because they never tire to lend themselves; regularly pouring out their own lives as a libation for the service of others.

To every profession, a teacher is responsible. To the many success and ingenuity recorded in our World today, the hand of the teacher is visible. Today, the world celebrates the amazing roles Teachers play in shaping our lives and in building great minds.

In praise of teachers, Maria Montessori puts it well "It is not enough for the teacher to love the child. She must first love and understand the universe. She must prepare herself, and truly work at it." If the teacher does this, then why can't we value them and then improve their status?

We owe our teachers a debt of gratitude. Our thankfulness should not be ensconced only on a day like this. It should be a daily mantra - a sort of timeless gratitude. For as Bill Gates rightly said, "Technology is just a tool. In terms of getting the kids working together and motivating them, the teacher is the most important."

Today, I celebrate the love of my life, wife of my youth, mother of our son and teacher to both of us - Nkiruka Mary Sylvia Udechukwu. BSc. PGDE. M.ED for the outstanding role she plays as an educator.

Baby gurl, keep shining!

Today, treat a teacher nice. Thank a teacher!

#thedailyletter #jisi #teachers #teaching  #teachersday2024 #ojisiemezie

Stay Jiggy

Jisi