Elementary School Teacher Day is a holiday observed annually on the third Monday in January. It is designed to show appreciation for the teachers who play a vital role in the education of children during their formative years.

They help provide a solid educational foundation by teaching the basics of reading, math, and basic research skills. Without these building blocks, students would struggle later in their academic careers.

That is why it is important for everyone, regardless of whether a person has children or not, to celebrate elementary school teachers on this day. Without their work, our society would not function as well as it does.

The History of Elementary School Teacher Day

Elementary schools in North America began when European settlers brought their concept of education with them during the 16th and 17th centuries. The first school system was a two-track one that featured a primary school attended by the lower socioeconomic classes and separate preparatory schools and colleges for upper-class children. The primary schools were usually under church control and offered basic courses in reading, writing, math, and religion.

During the 1830s and 1840s, the church-controlled school system began to be replaced with a more secular education system. Schools were set up to go up to the 8th grade, but that began to change after WWII when the Junior High School system was introduced.

This left elementary schools with the primary task of educating children from kindergarten through the 5th grade—although some schools operated as elementary through junior high or high schools for many years following the transition.

Unfortunately, at this time, we are unsure of exactly when Elementary School Teacher Day was invented. We could not find any sources that list when this holiday was invented or who invented it. As we move forward, we will attempt to periodically come back to this holiday and see if we can find any updated information on it, but at this moment, we just do not know where this holiday began.

Observing Elementary School Teacher Day

On this holiday, everyone is encouraged to thank an elementary school teacher for their contributions to the education of our youth. This can be done in person by parents, or it can be done virtually by using the hashtag #ElementarySchoolTeacherDay on social media.

Let’s all come together and let our elementary teachers know what they do is important to all of us. And let’s all advocate for increased pay for all teachers. After all, they do one of the toughest but most important jobs in the world.