CATHOLIC TEACHERS: FOLLOWERS AND LEADERS

Teachers' day has been a very popular event ever since our childhood. It's one of those days where we can freely express our love and appreciation to our teachers. This occasion is something almost everyone knows about, however, the odds might differ for Catholic Teachers' Day. But why should Catholic Teachers' Day be relevant? Why can't it just be celebrated on Teachers' Day? What specific qualities separate the two?

Written by: Iosepha Nathania Ferrer

Layout by: Sean Aldrich Siruno

January 26, 2024 | 1:10 P.M.

Teachers’ Day is something we’ve known ever since we started going to school. That day in October when suddenly everyone is singing “Salamat” by Yeng Constantino. The day when the whole class prepares flowers and maybe even a cake for their adviser. Then, everyone in class comes up with creative ways on how to convince the teacher to enter the classroom without suspicion for a surprise. 

Although this day is very special, many people forget about a day similar to this, but in January. A handful of students don't know that January 26th was to celebrate St. John Baptist De La Salle’s canonization in the year 1900, which was later on adopted by Catholic schools, and even governments around the world later recognized the day as Catholic Teachers’ Day. There are students out there who don’t even know Catholic Teachers’ Day exists. For the students who do, they might see it as irrelevant or redundant. Why do we have this event in the first place? Why not just celebrate it on Teachers’ Day as well? What separates Catholic teachers from regular teachers?

One difference can be what they teach. Yes, both teachers help students learn about basic knowledge, like Math, Science, or English. However, Catholic teachers teach students of various ages a very important virtue: faith. Sure, there are major subjects that may improve a person’s academic and mental health, but learning about Jesus can improve someone’s spiritual health. They teach us that from childhood to adulthood, God will always be there to guide us, and so will they. They channel God by incorporating him into their everyday lessons and even actions. Teachers can usually be two things. Teachers can be followers. They can be the followers of Jesus as if they were a prophet. They find ways to spread God’s word in their teaching. They are seen as God’s messengers in ensuring the youth learn the importance of having Him in their lives. 

However, teachers can also be seen as leaders or second parents. They can be leaders because their students are seen as their followers. They lead the students with their teachings, something that can help them along the way in life. They lead the way for students to achieve greatness within themselves in hopes that the students will do the same for others. They lead students closer to our greatest Father, God. They’re the ones who light up the torch and lead us through darkness hoping we’d keep going even when we’ve grown up. That does make me wonder if our teachers are our second parents and the Church is our 3rd home, who are we without our teachers and God? Where would we be right now? Would we have achieved the goals we thought would only happen in our wildest dreams? Would we be standing here, tall and proud of all our achievements? Would we still have that comforting presence? A shoulder to lean on? A hand to hold? Someone we can look up to? Someone we could look at, after all those years of them being by our side, and finally say “thank you”? 

Our teachers helped us shape who we are today. They helped us gain new and insightful knowledge almost every day of our lives. They encourage us to chase our dreams and what makes us the happiest. Meanwhile, God is the one who made sure we would get to where we wanted to be. He may have made the process long and a little bit tricky, but he made sure we’d get there. Both of these figures have been in our lives for as long as we can remember, being a source of hope, inspiration, and guidance. The ones who helped us achieve and master the values of faith, excellence, and service. 

Catholic teachers aren’t just regular teachers, they are teachers who introduced us to Catholicism at a young age in hopes that we give God our faith for the entirety of our lives. They are the ones who taught us something we can find useful every day. The type of knowledge that isn’t measurable by numbers on a card. With that being said, this upcoming Catholic Teachers’ Day, don’t just give your teachers flowers, or chocolates, or a cake. Remember to include them in your prayers, give them a warm hug, and thank them for teaching a fundamental and unforgettable lesson or virtue—that God is with us.