Happy Teachers' Day

Never underestimate the influence of a caring teacher!

John Ruskin, the author and poet, was quoted, "the entire object of true education is to make people not merely do the right thing, but to enjoy right things; not merely industrious, but to love industry; not merely learned, but to love knowlegde."

photo: Copenhagen, Denmark (Jun 2003)

September 1 was Teachers' Day in Singapore. As usual, my wife and I received our fair share of Happy Teacher's Day greetings, through cards, e-mail and sms, from our current and ex-students. As a tradition, her boss presented each teacher in her school with a cake. They also had a buffet lunch at Mandarin Hotel. However, at the university, teachers day passed by without any fanfare. Nevertheless, one of my ex-students brought her 1-yr+ son to greet me in school.

Here is a poem on Why God Created Teachers.

When God created teachers,

He gave us special friends

To help us understand

His world

And truly comprehend

The beauty and the wonder

Of everything we see,

And become a better person

With each discovery.

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When God created teachers,
He gave us special guides

To show us ways

In which to grow

So we can all decide

How to live and how to do

What's right instead of wrong,

To lead us so that we can lead

And learn how to be strong.

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Why God created teachers,

In His wisdom and grace,

Was to help us learn

To make our world

A better, wiser place.

- Jill Wolf