Since the times immemorial, we have been hearing people say that Teacher’s profession is a prophetic profession. Teachers are the builders of nation. Teachers are the saint seers of every time. Who the teachers are in real sense and what is their contribution to the humanity?All these questions strike my mind when I recollect the past memories of my school days and my sacred bond with my teachers. The decency and the connection of purity where one feels like that he/she is in front of God. The connection which gives us a sense of dignity and security. And it was the time when we trusted our teacher more than our parents and other kith and kin. I would rather aptly quoits Charles Dickens ‘It was the best of times, it was the worst of times’
As it was a holy design to train the mankind through those among the mankind. And at the initial stage the task was given to Prophets, Saints, Avtars and the holy men. Evaluating the role and importance of teachers compels one to connect between the values of education with that of teacher so that the real essence teacher is worked out and it is necessary to put the teacher in an appropriate context. In the context of religion, every prophet was given the task of education people about the creation of the universe and the natural laws so established. Not only this, but those holy men were entrusted with the task of teaching moralism and human values to the people they were sent to. Many a revelations were enshrined on them to get the knowledge of worldly life and the world hereafter.

Religious Point of View

“Like (a favor which you have already received) in that We have sent among you a Messenger of your own, rehearsing to you Our verses, and purifying you, and instructing you in scripture and wisdom, and in new knowledge” (Quran, 2: 151). According to this verse of Holy Quran Holy Prophet (SAW) were sent to teach about the Holy Book Quran, the wisdom and unknown things to the people of this world. As we all know that the person who teaches is a teacher, a man of obedience and respect. Teachers are some of the most influential people in society and have great importance in modern society. Teachers bear the responsibility of molding students’ personalities and educating them. Teachers are considered the most honored person in every religion. Due to the important role of teachers, Islam has granted high status and rights to teachers. Islam has paid great attention to teachers for their being the first brick in the structure of social development and perfection and the cause of guiding and developing behaviors and mentalities of individuals and communities. We can understand the highest rank of teachers from the Quote of Hazrat Ali (RA) in which He (RA) stated that: “If a person teaches me one single word, he has made me his servant for a lifetime.”

Philosophical Viewpoint

According to John Dewey, the profession of the classroom teacher is to produce the intelligence, skill, and character within each student so that the democratic community is composed of citizens who can think, do and act intelligently and morally. Teaching is a collaborative act and collaboration is one of the building blocks of creativity. Now imagine a teacher entering a noisy, high energy classroom. Some children would go quiet, some would continue talking to friends, some may ignore, and some might be very excited as to what they would be learning in class. Plato regards teaching as guidance into objective knowledge through the reasoned understanding of causes. Confucius regards teaching as leading self-cultivation. Buber sees the role of teachers as building a relationship with their students.Alexander the Great said that teacher is a friend philosopher and guide. Alexander the Great, who at a youthful age ran the Army to acquire more part of the world, was molded by his teacher whose name was Aristotle. How do poets evaluate the position of a teacher? Allama Iqbal (R.A) who says:
Sabaq Fir Padh shuja-ata ka, Itiaa-at ka , ibaadath ka,
Liya jayega Tuj se Kaam duniya ki immamat ka.
Akbar Elah Aabadhi Says:
Yun qatal se bachoon ke,
Wo badnaam na hota,
Afsoos ki firoun ko college ki na sujji.

Teachers Day is celebrated every year on 5th September for the appreciation of teachers. Teachers Day is celebrated on different dates in different countries. And it is celebrated on 5 October on global level. Argentina celebrates teacher’s day on 11 September since 1915. And we celebrated it on 5th September in commemoration of the birth day of a great educationist, teacher and 2nd President of India–Dr Sarvepalli Radakrsihnan, since 1962. Many countries celebrate their Teachers' Day on 5 October in conjunction with World Teachers' Day, which was established by UNESCO in 1994.On this very day, children bestow their teachers with respect and honor. They present gifts to their teachers and play roles of different teachers, commit mimicry of their teachers as a fun and play songs related to the teaching profession. And make the day a memorable one. The Theme for Teachers Day 2024 is empowering educators, strengthening resilience and building sustainability.
At the end, let’s see where does the teacher stand as on date? It is a matter of deep introspection for all the stake holders. Where has the status of a teacher gone? Who is responsible for it? What is the tendency of schoolchildren towards today’s teacher? All these questions need to be considered by all the people of the land and the world. although, in some western countries like USA, Japan, Germany, France etc a teacher still enjoys the same position as he used to enjoy during the Vedic times or during the Muslim rule. But , at present, a teacher has been reduced to a tutor and nothing more than that. To some extent some unprofessional persons have been responsible for it for having committed some shameful acts while being on duty. And the next factor that can be taken into account is change of some laws that has put the teacher in such limits that he has lost the professional authority over students. Impact of social media on the mind set of children folk is considerably responsible for it for having manipulated the mentality of students. The most tragic thing being that the education has been commercialized by private sector and the essence of a teacher has gone from the scene. Irrespective of a teachers rank and file he can’t control the student folk on ground as the impression of his professionalism has been eradicated from the heart and mind of a student. Contractual system in teaching line has created a demarcation between the regular and contract teachers so has the demarcation line been carved in the minds of students. Whenever, a teacher joins an institute, the first question that echoes in his class room is: are you a regular or a contact teacher/ lecturer/ assistant professor. All these circumstances have demoralized the teaching community and there seems a threat that in future the youth will not join thus profession at any cost as it has not any social status in today’s world. so the need of the hour being that the status of a teacher needs to be restored and some laws to be framed that may protect the status-quo of a teacher as it protects the status –quo of a student.

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