環(huán)球英語(yǔ) — 583：Celebrate Teachers
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Welcome to Spotlight. I'm Liz Waid.
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And I'm Mike Procter. Spotlight uses a special English method of broadcasting. It is easier for people to understand, no matter where in the world they live.
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A man stands in front of a large crowd of people. He has a crown on his head. He carries a stick - a sceptre. A crown and a sceptre usually show that a person is a king or queen. But this man is not a king. He is a teacher. Around him, all of his students and friends are clapping and laughing. He has been voted the best teacher in the Eastern European country of the Czech Republic.
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On this day, only one teacher is honoured. But there is a day to honour all the teachers in the world. Today's Spotlight is on World Teachers Day – October 5.
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Teachers make a very big difference to children and adults. Around the world today there are millions of teachers. Most teachers work very hard to help their students. They work long hours. Often, they are not paid well. So why do they do this work? They do it for their students!
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In 1994 the United Nations declared that there should be one day a year for teachers. On this day students and their families would celebrate their teachers. This day is to recognize the importance of teachers. It was first celebrated in 1966 by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). At that time the United Nations agreed to a document called the "Recommendation Concerning the Status of Teachers." This said that education is the right of all people. This means that teachers are necessary for society. It also gave a guide for how teachers should behave and how they should be treated.
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Organizations in many places try to help teachers and students. One of these organizations is Education International. It calls itself "the voice of education workers world wide." It supports teacher unions around the world. These teacher groups encourage fair pay, and good treatment. Education International is one group that supports the celebration of World Teachers Day. They hope that these celebrations will create more support for teachers.
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Can you imagine a world without teachers? They are very important for our societies and the future of our world.
On World Teachers Day we take time to recognize the hard work that teachers do. Many countries have a day to celebrate teachers. Some countries have a day off school. Some have a half day of school or other kind of celebrations.
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So how can we celebrate teachers? Examples from three different countries show us how: the Czech Rebublic, Peru and South Korea. Some countries celebrate Teachers Day on October fifth. Other countries celebrate teachers on a different day of the year. This depends on the history and customs of each country. But every teacher day shares the same goal!
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In the Czech Republic, Teachers Day is on March the twenty eighth. This is the birth date Jan Amos Komensky. He was a very great teacher. He also wrote many books. These books helped people learn more about education. He is very well respected in the Czech Rebublic and Slovakia as well as around the world.
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On Teachers Day in the Czech Republic, teachers and students take part in a special competition. It is named after Jan Amos Komensky. The competition is called the Zlaty Amos. In this competition, students choose their favourite teacher and one teacher wins the prize. The best teacher wears a crown and carries a sceptre, like the man at the beginning of our programme today. It is a great honour.
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But not every country has a competition for the best teacher. Most countries just honour all their teachers. In Peru, schools give teachers awards and plaques. These special signs honour the teacher's work. Many schools in Peru also hold special events where the students and the teachers play sports together. Students may also give their teacher a small gift.
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In Peru, Teachers Day is celebrated on July sixth. This is the date when the first school in Peru was built, in 1822. Peruvians honour a man named Jose de San Martin. San Martin is best known as a leader, with Simon Bolivar, in South America's fight for freedom from Spain. But in Peru, he is also known for building the first school for common people. He also began the National Library and the Normal Lancasteriana, a teacher-training school. He recognized that education is the best way for people to make their lives better.
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In South Korea, teachers are celebrated on May the fifteenth. Many people celebrate their teachers with traditional gifts. The most common gift to a teacher is a flower called a carnation. This small pink flower is a sign of respect. As a gift, it signals thankfulness. Students have been giving carnation flowers since 1963. Some students also give their teachers a card. On this paper, they write some words of thanks and respect.
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Teachers report that this means very much to them. The good words that students share give the teachers new energy to teach. Some students may even have a small performance of poems or music for the teachers. In South Korea, like in many countries around the world, teachers are greatly respected. A teacher has a large influence on the life of the student. The student and teacher may even keep a relationship after the time in class is over.
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Each individual country's celebration of teachers day may be different, but there is only one WORLD Teachers Day. On October the fifth, we can be thankful for all the teachers in the world. We can look for ways to support their work.
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It is also a good day to remember that not everyone is able to go to school. Some people live in areas where there are no teachers. Some people have a school but they lack the money to attend. On October 5, we can also think about ways to bring education to every community.
