“Teachers Day” or “Teachers’
Day” is never an issue in spoken English. However, as we greet our teachers “Happy
Teachers Day” in writing, the manner of presenting the second word becomes a
problem. Others basically ask before putting down the word on the page, whereas
most don’t care. This seems not worthy as a topic for discussion but we can’t
deny the fact that this matter causes petty arguments among students as the
event comes and they need to write the words to express their appreciation of
their teachers’ efforts. Believe me, even teachers themselves find this
confusing.
I was in my ELT 505 class when
I heard my professor said, “There’s no need for apostrophe s in the phrase
Teachers Day because the day is not of the teachers. It’s for the teachers, a
celebration for the teachers.” I believed my professor and started writing
Teachers Day thereafter. Why I did so? Because right
after our class I checked the internet and found the following pieces of
information concerning the matter.
First and foremost, I rechecked
the use of apostrophe and found the following. The punctuation is used to
indicate:
1. ownership,
like for example in Jenny’s cat, Jem’s bicycle, Laura and Tony’s mansion and
others.
2. contractions, as shown in it’s (it is), they’re (they are), we’ve (we have), etc.
3. pluralization of letters as reflected in the expression “mind your p’s and q’s” (www.merriam-webster.com).
2. contractions, as shown in it’s (it is), they’re (they are), we’ve (we have), etc.
3. pluralization of letters as reflected in the expression “mind your p’s and q’s” (www.merriam-webster.com).
Apparently, none of those
listed relate to the apostrophe used in teacher’s. I went on looking for
an explanation about the use of apostrophe and an article from
owl.excelsior.edu provided a kind of test called “of” test whether an apostrophe
is needed in a phrase. For instance,
my friend’s DVD the DVD of my friend
Beth’s zombie plan the zombie plan of Beth
The examples given clearly suggest the need for
apostrophe in the words friend’s and Beth’s. In Teacher’s Day, we will have day
of teachers; however, considering that teachers can’t and don’t own the
day, this appears to be incorrect.
Next, to justify the use of apostrophe, others even
cited Valentine’s Day as an example. Both
are occasions, yes but they are of different origins. Valentine’s Day is a
celebration named after St. Valentine. The holiday pertains to the saint, thus
the possessive indication(writingexplained.org). Teachers Day, on the other hand, is a celebration
to honor the teachers. As history indicates, it started in India in 1962. The
time when Indian teachers and students asked Dr. Sarvepalli Radhaskrishnan, a
great teacher, a philosopher, a scholar, and a politician to allow them to hold
a grand celebration of his birthday. He acknowledged their request in a
condition that it would be done in respect of all teachers, thus making the
event a celebration for teachers (www.fnp.com.). Obviously, the background
provided for Valentine’s Day validates the use of apostrophe but indicates the
opposite for Teachers Day. “Apostrophes
are not necessary when “for” is implied and not “belonging to”
(writingexplained.org).
“Teachers’ Day” or “Teachers Day” is employed in articles published
either in print or on the web, thus giving me an idea that we can write the phrase
in either of the forms. In any case, it’s the greeting and honouring the
teachers that matter. We all communicate our heartfelt appreciation of our
instructors’ or mentors’ efforts and sacrifices and that act is more
significant than anything else.
However, in my case, I chose to write and will always
write the phrase Teachers Day for I am convinced that the celebration is for
the teachers. It is neither owned nor named after the teachers.
