World Teachers’ Day: The Glimmers They Leave Behind
Students get credit all the time, don’t they? Course credits, report card grades, gold stars, a “good job” from a teacher when they finally get something right, or a little pat on the shoulder on the way back to their desk. It’s a part of their daily lives, nothing out of the ordinary. But it sticks.
There’s actually a word for those little moments. They’re called glimmers. The small things that make your day feel a little brighter, or give you a bit of comfort when you need it most. Teachers create them all the time, usually without even realizing it.
Teachers do so much more than teach. Over time, they develop a pretty stellar radar for the things grades can’t tell them. So when the kid who’s usually first with their hand up suddenly goes quiet, they notice. You might find them hanging back after class for a few extra minutes, just to check in with the student and ask if everything’s alright.
Years later, most of us won’t remember every lesson taught in class. Some of us couldn’t name that chapter we spent weeks trying to wrap our heads around, even if our lives depended on it. But we do remember the small acts of kindness, and how much they meant when we were having a rough day. Funny how those moments feel so ordinary when they’re happening, and then somehow turn out to be the moments that stay with us.
World Teachers’ Day feels like as good a time as any to think about all of this, especially when this year marks 60 years since the ILO and UNESCO adopted the Recommendation concerning the Status of Teachers. The idea was to make teachers feel valued and respected, and give them the support and working conditions they need to do what they do best.
It’s reassuring that a lot has changed over the past six decades, no doubt. But teachers still deserve that same care and support today.
Teachers spend their days handing out glimmers. Maybe it’s our turn to give a few back. Give and take. A quick thank-you note, or letting your child’s teacher know your kid won’t stop talking about their class, could easily make their week.
