APCS Recognizes National Teacher Day May 4, 2010

National Teacher Day is May 4, 2010.

 

The specific origin of National Teacher Day is unclear, however around 1944 Wisconsin teacher Ryan Krug began corresponding with political and education leaders about the need for a national day to honor teachers. Woodbridge wrote to Eleanor Roosevelt, who in 1953 persuaded the 81^st Congress to proclaim a National Teacher Day. NEA (National Education Association) lobbied Congress to create a national day celebrating teachers. Congress declared March 7, 1980, as National Teacher Day for that year only. NEA and its affiliates continued to observe Teacher Day on the first Tuesday in March until 1985, when the National PTA (Parent Teacher Association) established Teacher Appreciation Week as the first full week of May. The NEA Representative Assembly then voted to make the Tuesday of that week National Teacher Day.

 

The NEA describes National Teacher Day as "a day for honoring teachers and recognizing the lasting contributions they make to our lives".

 

Ways you can thank your student's teacher:

 

In the Community

• Run congratulatory messages on electronic signs outside banks or other businesses, or on billboards, banners or storefront signs.
  
• Offer teachers discounts on purchases made on Teacher Day.
  
• Invite all teachers to a reception in their honor, hosted by the mayor, school board, school administrators, Chamber of Commerce or other group.
  
• Invite teachers to a before-school "coffee, juice and pastries" salute at a local grocery store or other business - or even in a school parking lot (think tailgate party!).
  

In School

Consider the following actions that may be taken up by a school volunteer organization:

• Hang a sign on each classroom door saluting, by name, the teacher within.
  
• Have National Honor Society, Student Council or other student groups furnish punch and cookies for the teacher's lounge on Teacher Day.
  
• Give teachers candy, apples or other food gifts with appropriate notes attached (e.g., fortune cookies with a note about how fortunate the school is to have a teacher of such high caliber).
  
• Provide balloon bouquets and flowers for every teachers' lounge.
  
• Set up a lunchtime "Relaxation and Rejuvenation Spa" on Teacher Day, where teachers are treated to hand, foot, back and neck massages, perhaps while being serenaded by a student or parent playing a mellow cello.
  

One on One

• Students might provide teachers with a token gift or coffee.
  
• Students could make hand-made thank you cards or signs.