By: Dante Olvera Sanchez
It is on October 5, 1993 that UNESCO inaugurated the first World Teachers’ Day. Today, more than a hundred countries celebrate this day. Teachers contribute a lot to the development of their countries, ensuring the transmission of knowledge. Teachers also play a great civic role because their task contributes to preserving social cohesion. UNESCO created this day to draw the attention of certain governments to the poor working conditions that teachers must face. In the world, teachers have various working conditions. In certain countries, teachers’ salaries are very low, and sometimes they don’t even exist.
Why is Teacher’s Day celebrated on May 15 in Mexico? The history of Teacher’s Day in Mexico dates back to 1917, when a group of deputies (almost all former teachers) sent an initiative to Congress to celebrate education workers. Within this initiative, it was proposed that the date to commemorate him be May 15. But why May 15? This date of May 15 was chosen to commemorate the taking of Querétaro in 1867, when the Mexican army managed to defeat the Second Empire of Mexico.But on May 15, it not only celebrates a battle, but also a central character in the history of religious education: Saint John Baptist de La Salle. Saint John de la Salle was an innovative French priest and pedagogue, who devoted his life to training teachers for the education of children of artisans and poor children of the time. On May 15, 1950, he was declared the special patron of all educators of children and youth and the universal patron of educators by Pope Pius XII (1876-1958).President Venustiano Carranza signed the decree and on May 15, 1918, Teacher’s Day was celebrated for the first time in Mexico.Worldwide, UNESCO suggests celebrating Teacher’s Day on October 5, although in most countries another day is celebrated.
How is Teacher’s Day celebrated in Mexico? On Teacher’s Day, in general, teachers receive congratulations from their students and little gifts, almost always in the form of something sweet that can be eaten. In certain schools, artistic presentations and raffles for gifts are also organized.The teachers, the most involved in the union and in politics, make demonstrations in the Zócalo to protest against the educational reforms.
