Respect for Teachers

Today, as I scrolled through LinkedIn, I came across a video that truly moved me. A teacher was sharing a heartfelt tribute to his hero,his wife. In the video, she stood holding their child in one arm while skillfully managing a video camera with the other, capturing her husband’s online course lectures. It was a beautiful, selfless act, a reminder of the silent sacrifices made behind the scenes. His public acknowledgment of her support was touching, and it made me think about the dedication of teachers in general, especially in the digital age.

The way education is evolving, with teachers adapting to online courses and new modes of learning, is commendable. More than ever, they are required to be content creators, communicators, and mentors in ways previous generations never imagined. This shift should be encouraged and supported. But as I reflected on the honor this teacher gave to his wife, I was struck by another post,a stark contrast to this moment of gratitude and respect.

A student had openly insulted his teacher, boasting that he could get the entire course material from an AI model. What troubled me even more was not just the comment itself, but the overwhelming agreement from others in the replies. The casual dismissal of teachers, the idea that they are obsolete in a world of abundant information, was both disturbing and disappointing.

Respect is Not Optional

There was a time when respect for teachers was a given. You could disagree with their methods, you could challenge their perspectives, but the fundamental principle remained,teachers deserved respect. Not because they were flawless, but because they carried the responsibility of shaping generations. Respecting elders, mentors, and those who dedicate their lives to education is not something they should have to earn. It is a principle.

In many countries, including mine, teachers are not paid well. The profession is not seen as a lucrative or prestigious career path, and that reality deters many brilliant minds from pursuing it. Teaching, once considered one of the most honorable professions, is now often met with indifference or even disdain. If only we treated teachers as champions,if only we recognized their immense contributions and rewarded them accordingly,we could cultivate a generation rooted in strength, wisdom, and wealth, not just in material terms but in intellectual and moral prosperity.

The Lessons That Stay With Us

Thinking back to my own years as a student, I don’t just remember classroom discussions or lecture notes. I remember the teachers who stood out, the ones who disciplined me, the ones who praised me, the ones who argued with me, and the ones who encouraged me. The ones who challenged my thinking and, in doing so, shaped who I am today.

A teacher may believe their primary role is to deliver subject material, but their impact goes far beyond that. As students, we absorb everything, from the way they speak to how they carry themselves. A single word from a teacher can stay with a student for life. A moment of kindness, a lesson in patience, a display of ambition, or even a firm reprimand,all of these contribute to shaping identities. True teachers don’t just deliver content; they ignite curiosity, challenge assumptions, and inspire growth. They don’t dictate destinies, but they open doors to possibilities.

A Generation at Risk

What happens when an entire generation grows up without these lessons? When they fail to understand the value of history, culture, and principles? When learning becomes transactional rather than transformational? When experience is dismissed as irrelevant in the face of instant information?

The thought is unsettling. Knowledge without wisdom is dangerous. A world that does not value teachers is a world that does not value learning in its truest sense.

Technology is an incredible tool, but it cannot replace mentorship. AI can provide answers, but it cannot challenge perspectives. The future must not be one where we trade the depth of human teaching for the convenience of machine-generated knowledge.

Teachers matter. Their work matters. And our respect for them should not waver, no matter how much the world changes.