Teacher's Day: the history and tradition behind October 15th

O Teacher's Day is an important commemorative date of the month of October. But do you know how this day was chosen in Brazil?

October 15th is not just any date, but it was the day on which Imperial Brazil decreed an important law for Brazilian education.

On this day in 1827, Dom Pedro I published a decree that regulated the first schools in the country, known as first letters schools. From then on, the authorities at the time determined that the entire national territory should have schools.

Likewise, the new law established the remuneration of teachers and the subjects that would be taught in the first years of school, which would be the current elementary education.

Article 1 of the Law of October 15, 1827 says that “in all cities, towns and most populous places, there will be such primary schools as are necessary”.

Furthermore, the emperor's order created one of the first defenses in favor of the educator's profession, determining a salary base and other bonuses.

This first decree opened the way for education professionals to begin to be recognized in the country and, subsequently, gain a day for their celebration.

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Teacher's Day in Brazil

Despite the decree made in Imperial Brazil, it was only in 1947 that the date actually began to be a day of homage.

Salomão Becker, a teacher from the state of São Paulo, had the idea of ​​organizing a day so that teachers and students could get together to socialize.

So, he got together with three other friends from the area to organize the event at the school where they worked. Becker even gave a speech that enshrined the phrase: “Teacher is a profession. Educator is a mission.”

After that, the idea was well received by everyone and inspired other celebrations in schools in São Paulo and other Brazilian states.

However, only in 1963, in Federal Decree 52,682, the Teacher's Day officially gained the date considered a school holiday.

“To properly celebrate Teacher’s Day, educational establishments will promote ceremonies, in which praises the role of the master in modern society, involving students and families”, describes article 3 of the decree federal.

Since its first regulation, the teaching profession has been defended due to the need for its role in the development of society.

Therefore, officially having a date to celebrate Teacher's Day is essential to value and recognize the importance of education and educators.

Long live teachers, long live education!