Teacher’s Day celebrated Nov. 24

  • Published
  • By Mehmet Birbiri
  • 39th Air Base Wing Public Affairs host nation advisor
INCIRLIK AIR BASE, Turkey --  Teachers Day is celebrated throughout Turkey on its designated day, Nov. 24.

Special programs are broadcasted on TV and radios. President Abdullah Gul has chosen 81 teachers to represent their respective provinces at the presidential palace in Ankara. Numerous companies gave special discounts for the teachers.

Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founder of the modern Republic of Turkey, is considered as the headmaster for the whole nation because he changed the Arabic alphabet to Latin alphabet in 1928. Because Ataturk wanted everyone to learn the new alphabet, a campaign was started and almost every educated Turk supported the campaign by volunteering to teach the new alphabet to the Turkish people. Ataturk himself was one of the volunteers. He gave lessons to the public in parks and whenever and wherever he had the opportunity.

The most meaningful part of the day is when students take flowers with their books and give them to their teachers in appreciation for educating, training and enlightening them.