Before processing to the teacher and Teacher’s Day, first I would like to acknowledge the first week of the teacher in this beginning of the fifteenth century to all the lights in the hands of the community and the heartbroken, “Enlightenment and Education” and congratulate and congratulate them from the heart and soul! And then, with a pure spirit, I send special gratitude and thanks to all influential figures in “Modern Education of Iran”, including Mirza Hasan Khan Tabrizi, known as “Rashdieh”, the founder of the first modern school in Iran, and also to the first martyr of the Teachers’ Guild of Iran, Abolhasan Khan Ali, whose name is tied to Teacher’s Day with a heavy burden, with special humility and gratitude.

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Crisis of education and training in Iran.

This year, our country’s education system is celebrating the first week of the 15th century’s Teacher’s Day, while the crisis in education and training is threatening the entire structure of this modern institution from all sides. Undoubtedly, the quality and function of education and training have a profound impact on all aspects of society – both small and large. The prominent examples of these crises are now numerous; the increasing number of despair, violence, poverty (in all its dimensions), separations, broken families, hypocrisy, theft and embezzlement, prisons, increasing number of cases in the judiciary, suicides, brain drain, and thousands of small and large phenomena that have arisen from such a crisis and now engulf our entire country. And the most alarming of all: the pain and wonder that the rulers sitting on the throne of power see and do not accept?! They know, but with all their justifications, they are blind to the contradictions?! In these crisis-creating contradictions, they have also

The Ministry of Education or the educational institutions of the country, with their approach and implementation, can either lead the path to perfection, prosperity, health and well-being of society or the opposite; where the output of the latter path is a chain of diseases, disgust, violence, hypocrisy and thousands of other problems that ultimately lead to decline and degradation. In other words, the healthy and dynamic products and results of education and upbringing in the entire country compared to stagnant and lifeless education, seem to have distances from the throne to the ground, which we can see examples of both in the forefront of the world today: on one hand, Afghanistan, Iraq, Yemen and Iran, and on the other hand, Norway, Finland, South Korea, Singapore, and so on. Now everyone knows that the world is rapidly moving towards constant changes and discoveries; a modern world that with the brilliance of the sun and the common knowledge of universities has reached coexistence and companionship…

Debate between traditionalists and modernists.

From the birth of modern education and upbringing until today, our Iran has not been unaware and foreign to these changes. Today, it is incumbent upon all of our teachers to stand tall and brave in the face of the founder of this change – the structure of modern education and upbringing – and in the early dawn of each sunrise, we must bend our stature in front of the courage and high ideals of enlightenment; he is none other than Mirza Hassan Tabrizi, known as Rashdieh, who in the year 1262 AH built the first school with the same form and appearance as today in the city of Tabriz and also faced strong opposition and enemies from the clergy and schools. Rashdieh was the pioneer of those modern views that later brought electricity, water pipes, telephones, health, judiciary, and other phenomena that are born with current knowledge and make human life easier for the country.

Although in the ruthless dispute between these two different perspectives (namely, on one hand, traditional education with the view of clerics and, on the other hand, continuous scientific and university education), like the beginning of the emergence of any phenomenon, the old-fashioned habits – with the help of the ignorant soldiers and the masses who see life through the window of repetition and habit – were victorious over progress and progressives, but since the sun never stays hidden behind the clouds, in this certain reality, undoubtedly, in the continuation of the war between conservatism and progressivism, the victories and positive outcomes gradually became the share of scientific progressives, of which we have seen numerous examples in our history and the world. Today, we all remember with sorrow the story of the snake that we killed, with the one who used to drink its venom (1); that teacher who, with the eyes of habit, easily overpowered the other teacher who had brought “real literacy” to the village with new knowledge. But in

In this regard and in continuation of the same argument and evidence mentioned, it can be said that in a dynamic and scientific educational system, it is necessary to teach students in a structured and purposeful manner, similar to the events that have occurred in history, which narrate the war between conservatism and sometimes superstitious beliefs with scientific modernity, in order to elevate students. So that we do not witness these mixtures and familiar blends again (like today) that constantly arise between modern medical knowledge and individualistic experiences of traditional medicine.

Where does our education system stand in history now?

By examining and contemplating on the function of what has passed in the three governmental systems of Qajar, Pahlavi, and the Islamic Republic, and what has happened in the modern education and upbringing of Iran after about a century, it can be well observed that the growth and suitable platform for the development of knowledge and modern education has been either slow or rapid from the beginning until the end of the presence of the first Prime Minister of the Islamic Republic, Gholamhossein Shokouhi, in these three mentioned systems. Although after the ministry of the late Dr. Shokouhi until today, the growth of our education and upbringing has been slower and sometimes even reversed compared to the world today.

As we know, the education system of our country has gone through a very difficult and rocky path in the beginning. In this regard, it is necessary that the progressive and forward-looking perspective be included in school textbooks, which can serve as a lesson for scientific innovations. Now, considering the struggles and efforts in creating a modern education system in Iran and the progress made from the beginning until today, it is fitting that on such occasions as Teacher’s Day, we remember all those proud individuals who sacrificed their minds and bodies for their lofty aspirations – the aspiration of creating a dynamic and responsive education system that will lead to the health and prosperity of society.

Although the name of these proud leaders is constantly shining on the forehead of the history of education and training in Iran, without any promotion from the ruling area, but as we see and know, the greatness of their vision sometimes fades behind the dark clouds.

The philosophy of Teacher’s Day.

If parts of the days of the year are named after letters and individuals (such as Teacher’s Day, Labor Day, and Nurse’s Day), surely the lofty goals and desires of the namers are to create motivation and speed in the progress and excellence of society; otherwise, these commemorations and named days will have no benefit but to increase inaction and despair, which will be a shameful stain in history with disastrous consequences.

UNESCO, the cultural organization of the United Nations, has designated every year since 1996 as World Teachers’ Day on October 5th (equivalent to the 13th of Mehr in the Iranian calendar). However, some countries like Iran have chosen different days as Teachers’ Day based on their own traditions and events. For example, China celebrates Teachers’ Day on the birthday of its most famous philosopher and teacher from ancient times, while India designates September 5th as Teachers’ Day in honor of Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, the second President of India. In Iran, Teachers’ Day is observed on the 12th of Ordibehesht.

Teacher’s Day in Iran is accompanied by a historical background. On the morning of Tuesday, 12th of Ordibehesht in 1340, a group of Tehran teachers gathered in Baharestan Square, in front of the National Council, to protest against the Teachers’ Rights Bill and chanted slogans. At this time, the patience of the oppressive regime’s chief of police, Colonel Nasser Shahrestani, overflowed and he opened fire on the teachers. Among this crowd, a bullet struck the chest of a knowledgeable and educated teacher, Dr. Abolhasan Khanali, and he drowned in his own blood, becoming a martyr. The teachers’ protest grew stronger and eventually the government backed down. Five days after this bloody incident (on the 17th of Ordibehesht), the tyrannical regime was forced to accept the 12th of Ordibehesht as “Teacher’s Day”. Even after the revolution, it was still more

It should be noted that the philosophy of naming World Teachers’ Day is to achieve goals such as “examining and striving for the highest quality of teaching by teachers”.

“Review of Modern and Up-to-date Educational Issues” and “Attention to the Well-being, Livelihood, and Dignity of Teachers”. If only we in Iran also worked towards achieving the lofty goals of this day on Teacher’s Day, so that the philosophy behind such days is not reduced to mere “jokes and entertainment”.

Note:

1- It refers to the confrontation between Marnois and Markush in the ancient literacy board.