The theme of World Teachers’ Day 2021 is ‘Bright Future’. The Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership (AITSL) is encouraging all schools to get involved with this annual event, to celebrate their teachers, the amazing work that they do and to promote the profession.

In 2019 and 2020, School Governance wrote about World Teachers’ Day and encouraged schools to get onboard and celebrate the value that teachers bring to their schools. This year, our comments will be a little bit different. We want schools to contemplate what traits teachers bring to their roles and to the lives of their students. Spending time on World Teachers’ Day to showcase what’s in the heart of our teachers is an incredible way to show our gratitude.

Why Become a Teacher?

Firstly, and according to the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT), there are five things that people should contemplate if they are thinking about becoming a teacher:

1. You get to shape the lives of young people (and the next generation).
2. You get a passport with globally transferable and recognised skills.
3. There is strong demand for new teachers.
4. You learn to value both tradition and innovation.
5. You have the chance to be part of a challenging and rewarding profession.

You could then add even more reasons such as:

• Teachers get to share in joy and laughter every day.
• They are able to share their experience and wisdom with young people.
• They encourage students to take risks and love life.
• They are given time to reflect on their contribution to such an integral vocation.

If you work in a school, please take a few minutes to ask some of your teachers why they wanted to become a teacher and why they have remained in the occupation. 

Many will tell you that ‘they want to make a difference’ in the lives of the children that they teach or something very similar (shaping the lives of young people). Some may also say that the intrinsic rewards of being a teacher are another huge factor. These rewards are usually shaped around those ‘light globe’ moments, when they see that a child has genuinely grasped a concept or has achieved something that they have tried hard to achieve. These are very special moments for teachers who genuinely care.

So, what are these differences in student’s lives? What do teachers bring?

Teachers of Tomorrow Teacher Certification

What Do Teachers Bring to Their Students’ Lives?

It’s easy to speculate what teachers bring to students’ lives as a collective but, as the many of us who work or have worked in a school will know, every teacher is different, and the impact that they have on students is rarely black and white. If you want to genuinely celebrate World Teachers’ Day this week, it may be helpful to think about your own experience at school, and what you learned from your teachers. Of course, there was the curriculum, but beyond that, most of our memories about our teachers come back to how they made us feel, more than what they taught us.

Could you determine from the list below which teacher demonstrated that trait the most, and then apply that to your current school and seek out and thank those teachers who may very well be doing the same for the students that they teach?

Which teacher:

• had the biggest heart
• encouraged you to have a go
• nursed you when you got hurt
• looked after the underdogs in your class
• taught you kindness, humility and compassion
• introduced you to a classmate that became a life-long friend
• taught you when to be independent and when to call on a team
• challenged you to try harder when you didn’t think you had more to give
• corrected you when you might have made a poor choice, but also forgave you all the same
• was so passionate about a subject that you just wanted to listen and be inspired by them all day?

As you can see, often teachers bring skills and talents that are based on the specific needs of each child in each class. Sometimes, the differences are also entwined with the socio-economic status of the school or the students. Sometimes the differences are based on ensuring that there is equity and fairness in their classroom or school. More often than not, teachers bring the following to the lives of their students:

1. Respect
2. Fairness
3. Safety
4. Care
5. A sense of independence
6. Role-modelling
7. Individualised attention
8. Structure, rules and guidelines (and children need and want these)
9. Fun
10. Engagement

Please feel free to add five or more of your own here…. It’s not too difficult to do.

Teachers spend their working lives influencing their students’ views and understanding. They help their students to understand social norms and socially-acceptable behaviours, to be creative, to be sensible risk-takers, to develop a positive world view and to realise their potential to lead a productive life as a member of the wider community.

What Can Schools Do to Celebrate Their Teachers?

According to AITSL, World Teachers’ Day in Australia will be celebrated on Friday 29 October 2021, a bit later than the international day due to the school holidays. Their free downloadable World Teachers’ Day Celebration Kit will assist schools to develop ways to thank their teachers.

AITSL suggests that schools should start World Teachers’ Day with a genuine and thoughtful recognition of the teachers. Set aside time at a staff meeting, dedicate time in a school assembly , and encourage their students to thank their teachers throughout the day with some of the following suggestions from their website:

1. A thank you note or drawing: A short note, email or drawing from a child will be sure to make any teacher smile.
2. A personalised card: A personalised card/digital card is another easy and thoughtful way to say thanks.
3. Badges: Check out the badge templates in the Celebration Kit. The children can print out and create a badge for the day.
4. Small gift ideas: Chocolates, tea, or even a packet of native plant seeds are popular small gifts for teachers. Children can use the gift tags in the Celebration Kit to add a personal touch.
5. Get involved with school celebrations: Students could help organise or perhaps serve at a morning tea, or arrange some thank you presentations for teachers.

The World Teachers’ Day Celebration Kit also has virtual stickers that students can paste into an email, Teams, Zoom or Google Classroom.

Whose Bright Future Is It?

There are two ways to interpret the theme of World Teachers’ Day 2021. Some may say that teaching is a career with a bright future. And it is - especially for those who want to make a genuine difference in the lives of the children that they teach. However, the outcomes of the work by our teachers give all of their students a bright future too.

So, on World Teachers’ Day, regardless of which interpretation you choose, please take a moment to think about, acknowledge and thank the people who are, and have been, working tirelessly through this pandemic and continue to educate and care for the children of your school-our children and grandchildren. Kudos to all our teachers for a job well done!

Authors

Craig D'cruz

With 37 years of educational experience, Craig D’cruz is the National Education Lead at CompliSpace. Craig provides direction on education matters including new products, program/module content and training. Previously Craig held the roles of Industrial Officer at the Association of Independent Schools of WA, he was the Principal of a K-12 non-government school, Deputy Principal of a systemic non-government school and he has had teaching and leadership experience in both the independent and Catholic school sectors. Craig currently sits on the board of a large non-government school and is a regular presenter on behalf of CompliSpace and other educational bodies on issues relating to school governance, school culture and leadership.

Melissa Larsson

Melissa Larsson is the Learning Content Manager at CompliSpace. She has extensive experience working in Education, notably as a Head of House, Senior Business Teacher and Acting Deputy Principal.  She has advised on syllabus development and assessment in Queensland and is also a co-author of two textbooks and a student study guide for the Business for QCE series.   She has also worked with many CompliSpace clients in her former role as Project Manager and Consultant.