On Friday the 3rd of October there was the teachers day in our school.
We were really surprised by the way in which they celebrate it because in our
home country the teachers day is not really a special day. I talked to some
teachers, students and friends from other countries what they now about the
International Teachers day, but first about this day itself.
WHAT IS THE TEACHERS DAY!?
On October 5, 1994, the first World Teachers' Day was held. This
event has been organized on the same date each year since then. However, local
events may be on some other date close to October 5, so that they do not fall
during autumn (northern hemisphere) or spring (southern hemisphere) school
vacations.
OTHER COUNTRIES!
There are huge differences in which the Teachers day is celebrated. For
example in my home country Austria
nobody really knows about this day. There is just one day in the year where the
students have a day of and the teachers make a trip for example hiking
in the mountains and then go to a restaurant.
Moreover there is not this kind of respect to the teachers. Of course it
depends on the kind of teacher but the only present for a teacher is often when
you graduate.
In France
there is nothing like this teachers day and Anne Sophie said that students and
teachers did not have such a good relationship as in Lithuania. "Students are
present to learn and teachers to teach. There is no complicity and the students
could not think to this kind of day. I think it‘s too bad because these days
are efficient to create community in the school."
In Spain
it is quite similar. Liudvikas said that it is celebrated on the 27.November
but it is not very popular and just teacher are celebrating it.
Moreover
I have talked to some friends from different countries. Most of them did
not know anything about this special day in their home country. Ana from Rumania and Mateo form Italy
had no Idea what I am talking about. They never heard about teacher’s day
before. Quite funny if you know that Mateo is a teacher in Italy.
Hamish
from Australia
wrote me that he don’t know anything about it but his sister is a teacher and
she told him, that they just celebrate this day in the morning in the teachers
room, together with the other teachers. They have a cup of tea together and
that’s all.
Barbara from Hungary wrote
me: "Firstly this day was celebrated on 7-8. of June in 1952 and on this
occasion, diplomas for outstanding teachers and later several awards were
handed out on this day. These diplomas and awards are provided for the best
pedagogues of the country.
In schools, students usually give bunches of flowers for their teachers. The
parents community arrange this gifting for the main teachers but on the other
hand studends gift bunches for their own favourite teachers as well."
Tamuna, the last volunteer in the
Radijo klubas from Georgia said that it is like in Lithuania. They
celebrate it on the 5th October but in general, the teachers’ day and the
students’ day is more the first or the second day in September, after the
summer holidays.
The most important day for them is
the Georgian language day. They celebrate it the 14th april, since
1990.
WHAT
STUDENTS THINK!
It looked like that most of the
students really enjoy to work, organize and to celebrate this day for their
teachers. Radvile said that it was a lot of work but everybody could say their
own ideas and take part in the organization. It is a real special day and
everybody is happy - it is worth the effort.
WHAT
TEACHERS THINK!
On Friday I have talked to some
teachers from our school. I asked them what they think about the teacher’s
day and of course they like it because it is nearly like a day of for them.
They think it is important because it helps to have a good time while working
together and to have more respect from each other. Alla Chvostova said
that she make presents for her students too. For example on Christmas when they
make a celebrating lesson and have a great time together. Through that she try
to show the students that she enjoy the work together with them.
Moreover I was surprised when I was
talking to Danguolė Kukla and her stories. She
told me that teachers often get presents. For example once she got a barbeque
grill and then she made a big barbeque for all of them twice. So it was a
win-win situation for both of them and it is a great chance to get to know each
other in a completely different way.
All teachers I talked to said it is
great to hear that is something special for us foreigners, because some teachers
always think the students should organize even more. And so they hear that it
is really special and not self-evident. You as a students did a
good work and the teachers I think are happy to have such students.
For me it is really great to see something like that too and it really shows
that teachers are important for our life and it is important to respect them. I
hope that you will continue this tradition.
On Wednesday the 19.November I presented my home country Austria. We made a kind of journey through one year full of events, celebrations and also religions occasions. I had really a lot of things to tell. From "Wiener Opernball", Carneval and Easter over to Summerevents with traditional customs and "Dirndl" up to the winter which is dominated by Christmas markets, skiing and a lot of delicious food. 
