Teacher's Day is Stupid

Every year, schools across the globe mark one day on the calendar to “celebrate” teachers. Students bring flowers, gifts, and sometimes hastily scribble thank-you notes, while administrations arrange ceremonies that supposedly honor the educators shaping the next generation. Yet, the truth is, this one-day celebration feels painfully hollow. Teacher’s Day is stupid. Not because teachers don’t deserve appreciation—they absolutely do—but because compressing their worth into a single day reduces their contributions to a shallow, almost seemingly performative gesture.

Whenever my teacher stretches her palms across the projected image on our whiteboard, I always seem to notice how the slits of her eyes grew weary with every uttered word. Whenever another sits in front of me with grace and poise—despite the screeching noise from her speaker, piercing my ears—I notice the discreet effort she makes to wipe the sweat off from her forehead, all the while plastering a wide smile up on her face; a smile so wide it honestly looks painful, and yet, her composure remains, eyes bright with the eagerness to teach, regardless of the strain. Then, there’s the teacher who casually throw jokes around to lighten up the mood whenever the lessons would get highly theoretical. It’s a deliberate act to keep the class engaged, and though subtle, I notice it too well. Even when the teacher known for her confidence falters in voice, I notice.

But these observations are just the surface. There is so much more that lies beneath the versions they show in front of the classroom. Reality had dawned on me when a friend had once poured her heart out as she dishearteningly opened the burdens her family heaved–her sister who was a teacher in particular, served as the one responsible in keeping them from having a day without food served on the table. It shattered me into miniscule pieces, so much so that I began to realize how disgustingly underappreciated teachers are. For all they give, a single day of recognition feels like a shallow gesture. Nothing is richer than the wisdom and knowledge they impart upon us, and yet, they are taken for granted most of the time. Teachers deserve more than just one day of appreciation—they deserve it every single day. The chance to show our gratitude shouldn’t be confined to a designated date on the calendar but should be something we seize every chance we get.

There’s nothing inherently wrong with celebrating Teacher’s Day. The problem lies in how we approach it. Too often, the appreciation shown on Teacher’s Day feels forced. Students give gifts, but how many of them genuinely mean it? How many see the day as an obligation—a task to check off, rather than an opportunity to reflect on the impact their teachers have made on their lives? How many who cried during a heartfelt message truly meant every word from the depths of their hearts? How many have openly dedicate a song to their mentors solely to show and impress, rather than to express? Saddening, but many of these students will walk past their teachers the next day without a second thought, their “thank you” already forgotten. And that’s the problem. Teacher’s Day isn’t about genuine appreciation—it’s about appearances. This reality infuriates me to a certain degree.

The irony is that Teacher’s Day may actually contribute to their undervaluation. By confining appreciation to a single event, society can pat itself on the back for a job well done, without addressing the real issues teachers face. What about their low pay? Their lack of resources? The increasing demands placed on them? One day of celebration does nothing to tackle these problems. In fact, it feels more like a distraction, allowing us to ignore the deeper issues while making us feel good about ourselves for “honoring” teachers. If we really care about teachers, we wouldn’t need a specific day to show it. Appreciation should be ongoing, woven into the fabric of everyday interactions. A simple “thank you” in the hallway, recognizing the extra time spent grading, or acknowledging how much effort goes into making lessons engaging—all of these gestures would mean more than the performative gratitude of a single day.

In the end, Teacher’s Day feels more like a superficial band-aid on a much larger wound. It allows us to feel like we’ve done something meaningful, when in reality, we’ve done very little. Teachers deserve more than this fleeting acknowledgment—they deserve our respect, support, and appreciation every day. If your appreciation isn’t real, it’s better to say nothing at all. But if your gratitude is genuine, even the simplest “thank you” will mean more than any gift ever could. Teachers don’t need grand gestures—they need to know that their efforts have made a difference in our lives.

With that in mind, I say this with conviction: Value your teachers! Their roles extend far beyond grading papers and assigning scores. They have so much more than meets the eye, hence, should not be underestimated. They are the ones who serve as our second parents, who shape our moral virtues and life principles. They are underappreciated, and most of the time taken for granted—today is a day we change that. Appreciate your mentors, as they are our true unsung heroes.

So, to all our beloved teachers: Happy Teacher’s Day. We will strive to ensure your efforts are not in vain.