The Teacher We Often Forget - by Shuliê

Today, we celebrate teachers. ‎We post their pictures. We write “Happy Teachers’ Day.” We remember the teacher who encouraged us when we wanted to give up, the one who stayed after class to explain a difficult topic, or the one whose words still live in our minds years after leaving school.‎‎But after the celebration ends, what happens to the teacher?‎‎Behind that smile in the classroom may be someone who has not been paid for months.‎‎Behind that “Good morning, class” may be a teacher worrying about rent, transportation, food, school fees, or how to provide for their family.‎‎Behind the lesson plan may be someone who spends their own money to provide materials because the school cannot—or will not—provide them.‎‎And behind the patience we admire may be someone who is simply exhausted.‎<img alt="" src="/media/inline_insight_image/55b29c77856fd272327961e31efae352.jpg" style="background-color: transparent;"/>‎I am not writing this as someone who has only watched teachers from the outside. I was once a teacher myself.‎‎I know what it feels like.‎‎I know the effort that goes into preparing lessons, standing in front of a classroom, dealing with different personalities, correcting mistakes, answering questions, marking work and still trying to give your best even when you are personally going through a lot.‎‎I have felt that pain.‎‎That is why this is not just a Teachers' Day post for me. I am writing from experience.‎‎Teaching is one of the professions that shapes almost every other profession, yet teachers are sometimes treated as though their work has little value.‎‎Some teachers receive salaries that barely reflect the amount of work they do. Some experience delayed payments. Some work under bosses who speak to them disrespectfully, overload them with responsibilities, or make them feel replaceable.‎‎And let's not even get started on what happens in some schools where teachers are expected to maintain discipline but are simultaneously given very little room to actually discipline students.‎‎A teacher may know exactly how to correct a student's behaviour, but sometimes school policies, management decisions, or pressure from parents leave that teacher walking on eggshells.‎‎How do you expect a teacher to teach responsibility when they are not allowed to correct irresponsibility?‎‎Of course, discipline should never mean abuse, humiliation or violence. Students deserve protection and respect. But teachers also need reasonable authority, support and clear boundaries so they can manage their classrooms effectively.‎‎Imagine spending hours preparing lessons, standing in front of a classroom, marking assignments, attending meetings, handling difficult situations, communicating with parents and carrying the emotional weight of dozens of children—only to go home wondering when your salary will arrive.‎‎Teachers are human too.‎‎They get tired.‎‎They have families.‎‎They have dreams.‎‎They have bills.‎‎They have bad days.‎‎And sometimes, they need encouragement just as much as their students do.‎‎We often say, “Teachers are the parents of our children when they are in school.”‎‎If that is true, then shouldn't we treat them with the dignity we would want for those caring for our own children?‎‎Appreciation is more than a social-media post once a year.‎‎Appreciation is fair pay.‎Appreciation is timely payment.‎Appreciation is respect.‎Appreciation is a safe working environment.‎Appreciation is listening to teachers.‎Appreciation is giving them the resources they need to do their jobs well.‎‎And to every teacher reading this:‎‎Please remember that your work matters.‎‎The student who finally understood because you explained it one more time may never tell you.‎‎The child who gained confidence because you believed in them may never know how much your words changed their life.‎‎The doctor, engineer, entrepreneur, lawyer, scientist, leader or even future teacher sitting in your classroom may one day succeed because you refused to give up on them.‎‎So today, we celebrate you—not just because you teach subjects, but because you help shape people.‎‎Happy International Teachers' Day to every teacher who keeps showing up, even when showing up is difficult. ‎‎May the profession receive the respect, dignity, support and fair treatment it deserves.‎‎And may we never forget this:‎‎«Before someone became great at what they do, there was often a teacher who first believed they could.»‎‎What is one thing you wish society understood about teachers ?

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