Teachers' Day

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In some countries, Teachers' Days are intended to be special days for the appreciation of teachers. World Teacher’s Day is celebrated across the world on October 5th^[1], with great verve and enthusiasm. Ever since the importance of teachers has been recognized by UNESCO, by adopting the “Recommendation concerning the status of teachers”, World Teacher’s Day has been celebrated annually. This includes celebrations to honor the teachers for their special contribution in a particular field area or the community in general.

History 

The concept of celebrating teachers' day originated in India to remember the great educationist Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan. He was one of India's most influential scholars of comparative religion and philosophy, whose dream was that "Teachers should be the best minds in the country".  

By country 

* Argentina (September 11): To honor the work of Domingo Faustino Sarmiento after he died. 

* Australia (Last Friday in October): On Australia’s celebration of World Teachers’ Day, the NEiTA Foundation and the Australian Scholarships Group (ASG) is proud to announce the national teaching recipients of the ASG Community Merit Awards. World Teachers’ Day was started by UNESCO and is celebrated in more than 100 countries around the world each year. On its 40th anniversary this year, it represents a significant token of the awareness, understanding, and appreciation displayed for the vital contribution that teachers make to education.

* Bolivia: June 6

* Brazil (October 15): A decree regulating the elementary schools in Brazil. The celebration gained popularity throughout the country, and October 15 was officially designated Teachers' Day in 1963.


* Chile (October 16): In 1975, December 10 was chosen to celebrate Teachers' Day, because on that day in 1945, the Chilean poet Gabriela Mistral received the Nobel Prize. However, in 1977, the date was changed to October 16, to honor the founding of the Colegio de Profesores de Chile (Teachers' College of Chile).

* China (September 10): In the People's Republic of China, there are some activities for the students to show their appreciation to the teachers, such as presenting gifts including cards and flowers.

* Ecuador (April 13): Celebrated on this date in honor to Juan Montalvo, Ecuadorian teacher who planted in young minds the seeds of development. 

* El Salvador (June 22): Observed as a national holiday. 

* India (September 5): It is the birthday [5 September 1888 ],of the second President of India, academic philosopher Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan. It is considered a "celebration" day, where teachers and students report to school as usual but the usual activities and classes are replaced by activities of celebration, thanks and remembrance. At some schools on this day, the responsibility of teaching is taken up by the senior students to show appreciation for their teachers.

* Jamaica (May 6): Teachers' Day is normally celebrated on May 6 or the first Wednesday in May. In celebration of Teachers' Day, it is common for students and parents to bring teachers gifts. Additionally, most schools are closed early (half-day).

* Mexico: May 15. 

* Panama (December 1): To commemorate the birth date of Manuel José Hurtado, who is known as the father of Panamanian education due to his promotion of modern universal education through the establishment of the first public schools and teachers' colleges in what is know Panama—then part of Colombia, aiming to break the vicious cycle of ignorance and poverty that ailed the vast majority of the population. He went on to be named Director-general of Public Instruction of the State of the Isthmus.

* Paraguay: April 30

* Peru (July 6): During the independence of Peru, libertador don José de San Martín founded the first Normal School for Men by means of a resolution passed by Marquis of Torre-Tagle on July 6, 1822. Many years later, on 1953, the then president Manuel A. Odría decreed Teachers' Day to be commemorated on the 6 of July.

 * Poland (October 14): On this day is the anniversary of creation the Commission of National Education, created in 1773 from the initiative of King Stanisław August Poniatowski.

* Russia (October 5): Between 1965 and 1994, the first Sunday of October. Since 1994, on October 5, to coincide with the World Teachers' Day (est. 1994 by UNESCO).

* South Korea (May 15 since 1963 in Seoul and 1964 in Chunju city): Originally it was started by a group of red-cross youth team members who visited their sick ex-teachers at hospitals. The national celebration ceremony had been stopped between 1973 and 1982 and it resumed after that. On the celebration day, teachers are usually presented with carnations by their students, and both enjoy a shorter school day. Ex-students pay their respects to the former teachers by visiting them and handing a carnation. Many schools now close on Teacher's Day because of the rampant bribery implicit in the expensive gifts often given to teachers. Schools can use the day to have an outing for the teachers.

* Spain: January 29

* Thailand (January 16): Adopted as Teachers' Day in Thailand by a resolution of the government on November 21, 1956. The first Teachers' Day was held in 1957. Most Thai schools close for the day, but many international schools in the country don't recognise this day. There are very few public or official commemorations. It's just to give the teachers a well deserved break during the long second term in Thai schools.

* United States (National Teacher Day is on Tuesday during Teacher Appreciation Week, which takes place in the first full week of May - May 4, 2010): Students often show appreciation for their teachers with token gifts (giving teachers presents etc). The National Education Association describes National Teacher Day as "a day for honoring teachers and recognizing the lasting contributions they make to our lives".^[14]
The NEA gives a history of National Teacher Day:^[15] The origins of Teacher Day are murky. Around 1944 Wisconsin teacher Ryan Krug 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.
As of September 7, 1976, September 11 was also adopted as Teachers' Day in the U.S. state of Massachusetts. Currently, Massachusetts sets the first Sunday of June as its own Teachers' Day, annually.

* United Kingdown: No Teacher's Day in the UK - The UK does not have such a day.