Thursday, October 4, 2007 — On October 5, the world celebrates the importance of teachers. Because I'm a teacher, I certainly appreciate the thought. But I was once a student, too. So on this day, I like to take a moment to remember the people who helped shape my life by helping me to learn about the world around me.

You've probably heard of the United Nations. That's the group of nations who work together to prevent wars and to offer help to countries or people in trouble. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) created World Teachers' Day to remind people of the importance of education and of the people who educate us. They believe that education opens doors for people to understand each other and to live better lives.


In Millsberry, we're very lucky to have free education. We have teachers whose job is to help us learn. We have schools and classrooms where we work together to understand our world. And we have libraries and stores where we can find the books that open our eyes to the world around us. Not everyone is so lucky.

In poor nations, education isn't available to many people. There's no money for schools. Few of the people in those countries have the education they need to become teachers. Books are too expensive for many people to own or borrow. Without education, those people will have a difficult time making better lives for themselves. They won't be able to earn enough money to feed and clothe their families. They won't learn how to raise healthy food for their communities or how to build buildings for people to live and work in. And, just as importantly, they won't have the chance to think about the world around them, to learn how other people live, or to learn other languages.

I know that sometimes going to school feels like a chore. Some days, we'd just rather sleep in or spend the day playing. Students aren't the only ones who feel that way. I'm a teacher and some days I feel that way, too. But then I remember some of the teachers I had when I was a student and I think about how important education is. I'm so very proud to be a teacher and I hope all of you are just as proud to be students. Education is one of the most important activities we can share in our lives. Learning together, we might make a difference in our world. And that would be a really wonderful thing.

Don't forget that education happens outside of the classroom, too. And, just as Mrs. Seashore mentioned in her article, we have lots of books available to us for free at the library.

You'll find books about some really amazing Famous People in History, like Martin Luther King, Jr., Susan B. Anthony and Mark Twain. Those are people who really did make a difference in our world. But why stop with our planet? Check out the Fascinating Facts series and learn about things in the solar system and beyond, like comets, asteroids and the Milky Way. You can even explore the world of fantasy with books of folk tales or fables.

Just be sure to return your books on time so other people can check them out (and so you won't have to pay a late fee).