Damion Crawford | Standing with our teachers while standing together for our children

Today, as we celebrate World Teachers’ Day under the theme, ‘Standing with teachers: 60 years of protecting the profession, advancing its status and shaping our futures’, I want us to focus on one particular phrase: “standing with teachers”.

Over the last few weeks, I have become increasingly conscious of a striking reality. While I can remember multiple occasions throughout my life when I was taught the words of our National Anthem, I cannot remember ever being taught to truly contemplate its meaning.

Reflecting on today’s theme brought that realisation sharply back into focus. My message today therefore focuses, firstly, on our anthem and what it demands of us in our duty to our educators and, secondly, on the word “with” and what it means for our society.