It’s a time to recognize great educators.
By Alan Bauer
Polish up some apples and get ready to honor your favorite educators. Friday is World Teachers’ Day. Every Oct. 5, since 1994 when the United Nations established the day, teachers have been recognized for their hard work and contributions.
This year’s World Teachers’ Day theme is “The right to education means the right to a qualified teacher.” According to a recent study, the Garden State is a great place to find those educators.
WalletHub’s recent Best States for Teachers Survey ranked New Jersey №8 in the nation.
The state ranked №2 for Best School Systems: №4 for Lowest Pupil-Teacher Ratio; and №5 in Highest Public School Spending Per Student among 22 categories the group considered.
New Jersey residents value education and, as taxpayers can attest, are willing to pay to ensure children in the state receive an outstanding school experience. One can debate how all of the money raised for school districts is spent, but it has been clear for decades quality education is a priority.
At the heart of any educational system are, of course, the teachers. They are the ones charged with not only teaching the basics of reading, ‘riting and ‘rithmetic, but also staying on top of technology and emerging trends to ensure students are prepared for the next grade level and beyond.
In addition to academic duties, increasingly teachers find themselves involved in students’ personal lives, addressing issues at home or societal concerns that might affect performance in the classroom. You’ll often read stories about how teachers spot a student, or students, in need of additional help, and they always pitch right in.
This Friday is a great day to say “thank you” to the special teacher or teachers making a difference.
