尊师重教

　　重视教育，尊敬师长，在中国有着悠久的传统。自古以来，中华民族都把教育放在十分重要的地位。早在2,600多年前，管仲就说过：考虑一年的事情，要种好庄稼；筹划十年的目标，要种好树木；规划百年大事，就要培养人才。在中国第一部教育学专著《学记》中也提出了“教学为先”的思想，认为国家的首要任务就是教育。3,000多年前的周代，国家按行政区划，设立了不同规模、不同层次的学校，由官员兼任教师。到了春秋时期，孔子在他的家乡开办了私学，并提出人无论贵贱还是贫富，都有受教育的权利。

　　由于教育得到重视，在中国，读书人有较高的社会地位，有知识、有文化的人非常受人尊重。自古以来，无论贵族还是百姓，无论富人还是穷人，都千方百计地让子女上学读书，掌握知识。

　　对教育的重视，决定了教师的地位。中国民间有许多尊师的说法，如：尊师不论贵贱贫富；一日为师，终身为父等等。自古以来，从百姓到皇帝都十分敬重老师。如：在北京的孔庙里，有清代13位皇帝为孔子题写的牌匾，表达了帝王们对这位古代伟大教育家的景仰。

　　在中国，尊敬老师已成为一种源远流长的社会风尚，对老师的尊重，表现在社会生活的方方面面。教师见君王可以免掉许多礼节，反而当官的见到老师要躬身下拜。人们称老师为“恩师”、“先生”，在日常生活中以师为先，以师为尊。现在，中国还把每年的9月10日定为教师节，以表达对教师职业的尊重。

　　It is a tradition in China to attach importance to education and respect the teacher. Since ancient times, the Chinese nation has put education in a very important position. As Guan Zhong said over 2,600 years ago: it takes a year to grow crops, ten years to grow trees but a hundred years to rear people. And in China's first monograph on education-Record of Learning-an idea of "education first"was proposed, which holds that the prime task of a state is education. In the Zhou Dynasty more than 3,000 years ago, the government established schools of different scales at different levels according to administrative divisions, and officials acted as part-time teachers. In the Spring and Autumn Period (770-476 BC), Confucius opened a private school in his hometown, and put forward the idea that any person, whether of high or low social status, poor or rich, had the right to receive an education.

　　Since great importance is attached to education, intellectuals in China have high social status, and highly literate men are respected. Since ancient times, all levels of society have tried by every means to send their children to school.

　　The importance attached to education determines the status of the teacher. In China, there are many sayings about respecting the teacher. For example, the teacher, no matter of distinguished or humble origin, rich or poor, should be respected; a tutor for a day is a father for a lifetime. And since ancient times, people from the emperor down to the lowest subject have all shown great respect for the teacher. For instance, in the Confucian Temple of Beijing, there are boards inscribed with characters written by 13 emperors of the Qing Dynasty, showing imperial respect and admiration for this great educator of ancient China.

　　Respect for the teacher can be seen in all aspects of social life. The teacher could be excused from etiquette when meeting the emperor, and officials should bow down when meeting the teacher. People call the teacher "honorable Master"or"Sir", and give them respect and priority in daily life. Now, China has a Teachers'Day on September 10, in order to demonstrate public esteem for them.