World Teachers’ Day 2017


This coming Thursday, October 5, is the internationally-recognized World Teachers’ Day. Each year, teachers around the world are celebrated for their contributions in shaping the hearts and minds of students. This year, there are three campaigns we would like to draw attention to.

On the local front, we would like to encourage all SRTA Members, as well as their families and friends, to participate in the Manitoba Teachers’ Society #myteachermystory campaign.  MTS would like people to add their stories about an amazing public school teacher to their gallery.   Anyone can share a video or tell their story in print about what those teachers meant to them or just to say thanks, and when sharing, be sure to tag it with the #myteachermystory hashtag so that it can be picked up easily by MTS.  For more information about #myteachermystory, visit the MTS web site.

Nationally, the Canadian Teachers’ Federation is focused on the theme, “Addressing Violence, Building Respect.”  From the CTF news release, “‘All teachers and students have the right to a safe and caring environment,’ says CTF President H. Mark Ramsankar. ‘Sadly, our Member organizations indicate incidents of classroom violence against teachers are on the rise with a few reporting an increase at the elementary level. Many students and teachers go to school fearing they will be the next victims of threats, intimidation, and violence at the hands of other students. This shouldn’t happen in a place of learning and work.'”  More information about the CTF campaign can be found at the CTF web site.

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, a special committee of the UN, first recognized World Teachers’ Day on October 5, 1994.  Twenty-three years later, the UNESCO slogan for the World Teachers’ Day is, “Teaching in Freedom, Empowering Teachers.”  This year’s World Teachers’ Day will also celebrate the 20th anniversary of the 1997 UNESCO Recommendation concerning the Status of Higher-Education Teaching Personnel with a special focus on institutional autonomy and academic freedom.  The UNESCO web site has additional information about their efforts.

We ask that all Members recognize World Teachers’ Day on October 5 and encourage the use of the #WorldTeachersDay hashtag across all social media posts.