The influence of Teachers

64% of people surveyed say they are grateful to at least one teacher for inspiring the person they are today

Teachers are the biggest influence on a person's life, behind only parents and friends, new research suggests.

Some 82 per cent of people said teachers were very, or quite, influential on the lives of others, according to the results of a survey published by the Get Into Teaching campaign.

More than a third (36 per cent) of the 3,002 respondents in England aged over 16 said school or university was one of the biggest influences on their life - topped only by family life (58 per cent) and work life (40 per cent).

When looking at those who had most recently been in education – 16 to 23-year-olds – this figure rose to 49 per cent, with only 12 per cent saying celebrities and popular culture.

Overall, celebrities (59 per cent) and social media influencers (56 per cent) were deemed to have less effect than parents, friends and school teachers.

Almost two-thirds (62 per cent) said between one and five teachers helped to influence and shape them into the person they are today, and 43 per cent felt teachers influenced them most between the ages of 13 and 15.

The majority (58 per cent) remembered the name of their favourite teacher, and 64 per cent said they were grateful to at least one teacher for inspiring the person they are today.

Roger Pope, spokesman for the Get Into Teaching campaign and a National Leader for Education, said: "Our research underlines how teachers have stood the test of time when it comes to shaping the lives of others.

"In a world where modern-day social media and celebrity influencers are often in the limelight, it is interesting to see how the public recognise the real and lasting impact teachers have as influencers in their own right.

"Teachers are essentially the original influencers in that they are the individuals, aside from loved ones, that people spend a significant amount of time with, giving people from a young age the confidence and courage to achieve.

"Teaching should be a consideration for anyone looking for an opportunity to make this kind of positive and lasting impact as it genuinely is a career that few others can compete with."

When asked about teachers leaving a positive and lasting influence, more than half said teachers had helped to push them further, or believed in their talents (56 per cent)https://www.tes.com/news/teachers-are-third-biggest-influence-peoples-lives

The Most Interesting Easter Traditions

The Most Interesting Easter Traditions
from Around the World

CZECH REPUBLIC AND SLOVAKIA
Traveling to these Eastern European countries over Easter? If so, you'd better watch your back. There's an Easter Monday tradition in which men playfully spank women with handmade whips made of willow and decorated with ribbons. According to legend, the willow is the first tree to bloom in the spring, so the branches are supposed to transfer the tree's vitality and fertility to the women.

VERGES, SPAIN
 On Holy Thursday in the Medieval town of Verges, Spain, the traditional "dansa de la mort" or "death dance" is performed. To reenact scenes from the Passion, everyone dresses in skeleton costumes and parades through the streets. The procession ends with frightening skeletons carrying boxes of ashes. The macabre dance begins at midnight and continues for three hours into the early morning.

WASHINGTON, DC
For over 130 years, the White House has hosted the Easter Egg Roll on its South Lawn. The main activity involves rolling a colored hard-boiled egg with a large serving spoon, but now the event boasts many more amusements, like musical groups, an egg hunt, sports and crafts.

HUNGARY
"Sprinkling," a popular Hungarian Easter tradition, is observed on Easter Monday, which is also known as "Ducking Monday." Boys playfully sprinkle perfume or perfumed water on girls. Young men used to pour buckets of water over young women's heads, but now they spray perfume, cologne or just plain water, and ask for a kiss. People used to believe that water had a cleaning, healing and fertility-inducing effect.

JERUSALEM, ISRAEL
Taking place in the city where it is believed Jesus was crucified, Christians celebrate Good Friday by walking the same path Jesus did on the day he was nailed to the cross. Taking note of his pain that fateful day, some of those who participate carry a cross with them in remembrance. On Easter Sunday, many pilgrims attend a church service at Garden Tomb—the area it is believed Jesus was buried.

SICILY, ITALY
In Prizzi, Sicily, "the Abballu de daivuli is a representation of devils from locals wearing terrifying masks of zinc and dressed in red robes," according to The Telegraph. Those dressed in costume pester as many "souls" as they can (which really means making them pay for drinks) before the afternoon when the Virgin Mary and the risen Christ save the day by sending the devils away with angels.