Oh, Teacher!
In the honor of your name,
Please let me humbly bow even down.
You taught us to be humane and to think.
You were the first who cared for your people.
You were the first who ventured to speak
About brotherhood, equality and freedom.
N. Nekrasov (my translation)
Every year on October the 5th in Russia people celebrate Teacher's Day! This is a great holiday. All students and many graduates, despite their age, come to their schools to give flowers and to say thank you to their teachers. Back to 1950-1990 the profession of the teacher was the most important and respected. This is understandable, if you think about it: who spends the most time with your child on a daily basis? Who first sees the victories and defeats of students? Who teaches children manners and rules of conduct? Who could be a reason why a child learns the subject with particular diligence? It's all about the teacher! Sometimes parents forget how hard it was once to learn the multiplication tables, to perform a poem or to understand the laws of thermodynamics, but the teacher patiently explains it to the children again and again. The teacher finds the right words and approaches for each child. He can sing songs or make some short funny poems, if it would help students to learn some rules. Teachers are actors, subtle psychologists, specialists of higher category in their field and perhaps even friends! I have been infinitely lucky in life with good teachers! It is very rare and, also it is a great happiness! My violin teacher taught me how to work hard and to stay calm in stressful situations. The teacher of literature laid the foundations of morality and taught me the criteria for aesthetic perception of the world. My English teacher has opened up limitless possibilities for me.
We grow up, become professionals and earn big money, but not many students appreciate the investments that our teachers have made in us. After all, many of our successes today we owe to them. I believe each of us has thought at least once in life, "what a good thing the teacher taught me!" The world has brilliant doctors, actors, scientists and poets because of talented teachers who suggested to them the right techniques at the right time!
There are those among us who have chosen this difficult profession to be a teacher. Such people have very difficult days when they have to deal with some educational laws of the state or the students can't properly write tests and act up in class. But also there are days when their students pass the difficult exam with the highest score. They come to the teacher and thank her for her patience and knowledge. That's when teachers are ready to fly, inspired by the success of their students. Then they clearly see the results of their daily work. They realize that their work is important and necessary to people! I am eternally grateful to my teachers for what I've become. In many ways, my current professional victory is to their merit. Also, many moral principles and good taste in arts are good ideas that I had been taught by my teachers! If today you are at the pinnacle of success, don't forget tomorrow to look at your school or at least write an email to that teacher who taught you how to achieve this success. The world is famous for its teachers, but the students bring glory to the teacher's work.
