Meeting with Thousands of Teachers

In the Name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

First of all, I extend my welcome to all the dear brothers and sisters who are teachers, who have kindly arranged this warm and sweet meeting.

Among the symbolic naming days throughout the year, I believe that Teacher's Day holds a special significance and importance; and this importance arises from the status of the teacher. When we speak of the teacher, we sometimes consider the general meaning of a teacher, which is a very great and significant meaning. A teacher is someone who lights a lamp in the heart of a person and guides them from ignorance to knowledge and understanding; this is the meaning of a teacher. This is the greatest thing that can be conceived in human life.

An example of this is our dear martyr teacher today, Martyr Motahhari, who, with his knowledge, deep and powerful thought, analyzed various aspects of Islamic issues, examined them, clarified them, and provided us with these insights through dozens of valuable books. When we calculate, each of these aspects that Martyr Motahhari delved into and studied deeply and made available to us is a light that this great man has illuminated in our minds and hearts. What can be compared to this? This is one perspective on the meaning of a teacher.

As our great Imam (may his soul be sanctified) said, and we have repeatedly stated and heard, education is the role of the prophets - "He teaches them the Book and Wisdom" - and indeed, it is the role of the sacred existence of God Almighty - "He taught man what he did not know" - and at a lower level, human beings teach one another: one is a teacher, and one is a learner. You and everyone else, in any place - whether in education, universities, seminaries, or various educational gatherings - if your job is to teach people something, to clarify a valuable truth for them, or to add knowledge to the knowledge of the people, you hold the same status as a teacher; this is very respected, esteemed, and valuable.

The second perspective that I want to express to you dear ones in this meeting is the view of the teacher as an educator in the education system; this teacher is different from other teachers. All teachers are dear, but the educator in the education system has an exceptional role that none of the other teachers - whether parents who are teachers to their children at home, or great scholars who elevate individuals in their academic stages - can match in this regard; the educator in the education system holds a special importance.

Where does this special importance come from? It comes from the fact that education and schools - twelve years from preschool to the end of high school - serve as a public educational workshop for all individuals in a society; like a quarantine where all members of society enter this workshop from one point and exit from another. And in what period? In a period where, in the seventy, eighty, or hundred years of a person's life, no period is as significant in terms of learning as this period; the golden age of learning, meaning from six to eighteen years old. View education and the teacher with this perspective. The vast series of millions of individuals of a nation enter this great workshop, called education, during the best periods of their lives for learning - that is, in those twelve years. Who do they interact with? With the teacher. Therefore, the teacher is the creator of this great and twelve-year workshop.

Now, look at a country. As a human being, as a manager, as a leader, and as a compassionate person, you want a country where its individuals are distinguished in terms of talent; in terms of ethics, they are pure; in terms of action, they are courageous; in terms of thought, they are prudent; the individuals of this country should be independent, thoughtful, innovative, creative, pious, chaste, orderly, law-abiding, and engaged in great actions and aspirations; you want to build such a country and society. Who in the world does not wish for their country and society to be composed of men and women who possess these qualities and characteristics? That is, they should utilize their potential talents, have courage in action, pursue lofty ideals, not become weary, have enthusiasm and vitality, maintain order and discipline, and not have laxity, disorder, or laziness.

Now, we want to create a country with these characteristics. Look and see where the education of individuals takes place? From birth to death, which point and which area and environment is more suitable for educating such individuals than education? This twelve-year quarantine can educate individuals with these positive characteristics. That is, if the education factory works well, operates correctly, and all its components function well, its design, modeling, and management work well, undoubtedly, a country, wherever it is located, after twenty years, twenty-five years, will reach a point where its people possess these outstanding characteristics. This is the role of education; this is the role of the educator in education; this cannot be underestimated. Which part of the administrative and educational system of the country, other than education, holds this immense importance that this vast number of individuals, during the best times of their lives, are continuously - for twelve years - under their guidance? This is the importance of education. The respect we have for teachers and my true appreciation and honoring of the teacher is not flattery; it is not to please anyone; it is a reality based on this philosophy. The teacher - whether they want it or not - holds a high and noble rank and stands at the most sensitive point.

We have discussed the importance of education. In the education system, of course, there are staff members, designers, thinkers, and writers, and all of them share in this importance and value; however, the leader is the teacher. All designs and models are for the teacher to be able to perform their job well. In the middle of the field, it is the teacher; at the forefront, it is the teacher; the rest are supporters and providers for them so that they can transform this natural element that has been entrusted to them - namely, children and adolescents - into a valuable substance with their artistry, their jihad, their compassion, and their competence, thereby increasing its added value. This added value is incomparable to the added value of producing any manufactured item or thing; even if we make gold from soil, its value is higher than that; if we generate nuclear energy from mining, its value is higher than that. You are educating and producing human beings; and that too, human beings with those characteristics.

Now, if the teachers of a country decide to do the opposite of this action; that is, instead of creating courageous individuals, they create fearful individuals; instead of independent individuals, they create submissive and weak individuals; instead of individuals who love their homeland and national glories, they create individuals attached to foreigners; instead of chaste and pious individuals, they create careless, faithless, and irreligious individuals; instead of talented individuals with self-confidence and self-belief, they create astonished individuals enamored with the scientific and non-scientific powers of others, you will see what a catastrophe will occur in the country. The design of the educational system of the country during the reign of the tyrants - that is, from the time of the establishment of modern education during Reza Shah's era - was of this second type. The direct managers might not have even known what they were doing; but the goal was this; the design was this, and their products turned out somewhat like this. Of course, among the teachers and staff of education, there were many pious, independent, faithful, and chaste individuals - and they were not few - who did their part; but the plan was this.

In the Islamic system, the plan is the opposite; the plan is to educate individuals with the characteristics I mentioned in this great workshop. The youth's period of adolescence is in your hands. The period of a person's adolescence is the time of transformation and the formation of their lasting and long-term personality; the youth are in the hands of the teacher during this period. The teacher not only influences the student with their lessons but also with their character. A wise, knowledgeable, self-controlled, insightful, optimistic, and collaborative teacher raises their student in this manner; however, a harsh and impatient teacher raises the student differently; no matter what the lesson is. Therefore, focusing on education and valuing the teacher is a crucial and primary principle in the Islamic system.

What we have said and are saying about our teachers is addressed to the general public of the country; both students should appreciate their teachers, and families should appreciate their children's teachers, and government agencies and officials should recognize the importance of teachers. Thus, the primary audience is the general public; that is, all people should know that the teacher has such dignity; such importance. Primarily, honoring the teacher is the responsibility of everyone - that is, the people, families, guardians, and officials - but the special audience of this statement is the teachers themselves.

Teachers must realize the sensitive position they stand in. You are not a profession like other professions. You should not view this job as merely a means of earning a living. Yes, it does provide a livelihood; it is also considered a means of sustenance; however, the matter of the teacher should be a great mission and responsibility for the teacher themselves, which I have briefly explained. The teacher should be aware of where they stand and in what sensitive position they are. If we were to make a reasonable analogy, the role of a train conductor may seem insignificant, but the life and death of the caravan that is on this train depend on the work of this conductor and their attention; if they neglect, they are not only neglecting their profession and job; the matter of the life and fate of a whole group of people depends on them. The role of the teacher is similarly significant, which the teachers themselves should pay attention to.

Of course, the reality of our teaching community is a pleasant one; I say this based on my knowledge. Throughout the country, the teaching community is a clean, chaste, committed, diligent, patient, and mostly interested and devoted to their work. The evidence of this is that we have seen the role of teachers in guiding students in all sensitive periods of the country - including the period of sacred defense and the imposed war.

Over the years and from twenty-five years ago until now, since the time I held the presidency and was serving in the Supreme Cultural Revolution Council and witnessed events closely, one of the targets of the enemy's conspiracies has been the teaching community. I mentioned at the beginning of this year that the enemy is seriously pursuing three goals: scientific backwardness, economic backwardness, and breaking national unity; they spend dollars; hire mercenaries and employ the most skilled experts from security services to achieve these three objectives in the country; that is, to remain economically backward and fail; to halt the scientific progress that has begun; and to break the existing unity and turn us against each other. The enemy is pursuing these three goals. In two of these three goals, one of the important targets is the teachers; both in the area of scientific progress and in the area of social unity. Of course, today is the peak of the enemy's activities; but these conspiracies have existed for the past twenty or twenty-five years, which I have witnessed closely. In the face of this wave of conspiracy and pressure, the teaching community stands like a mountain. The fact that I say our teaching community is clean is a significant evidence of this. They have tried hard to create a major rift and discord among the people through teachers, but they have not succeeded; they cannot succeed, and the teachers continue to stand firm.

Dear brothers and sisters! The country is undergoing a serious movement forward; both scientifically, politically, militarily, and in strengthening the economic foundations. The Islamic system is demonstrating in practice that it is a rooted, influential, and inherently powerful system; not a power that some unfortunate countries and politicians possess, which stems from the support of this or that power; no, the power of the political system of the Islamic Republic is inherent; like a mountain whose roots are more extensive than what is visible above ground; the Islamic system is showing that this is the case and is progressing in this direction day by day. We are moving forward, and this movement is not a slow one; it is a rapid movement.

This steadfastness is not pleasing to the tyrants of the world. The distant king of a certain country is not considered among these tyrants. The most tyrannical of the tyrants are those who sit at the head of the global arrogance system. The apparent situation in their country is a facade of democracy - which is not democracy in essence - but their behavior on the international stage is that of a brutal dictator. They do not like a nation to establish a political system that stands against their interests and encroachments; yet they see that other Muslim nations are influenced by this great and powerful Islamic movement in Iran.

You see, today the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran and the top officials of the country visit every Islamic country, and when they are given the opportunity to go among the people, the feelings of the people are enthusiastic and supportive! What is the reason? Why is it that when our presidents visit any country and are given the chance to go among the people, the people express their love and affection for them many times more than for their own beloved leaders and personalities? Why? This is because the great movement of the Iranian nation has shown its impact, its influence, and its presence in the public opinion of the Islamic world. Courage, steadfastness, sacrifice, and honesty in word and action have an effect and natural consequences. It may be that the political leaders of many countries wish for the Islamic Republic not to exist; however, their people are completely in opposition to them, loving and devoted to the Islamic Republic. We recognize such countries around us and in this vast and sensitive region we are in. The global arrogance sees this. We are progressing in this way; we are also developing this spiritual influence; but if we do not continue this movement with wisdom, courage, reliance on God, and a sense of collective responsibility, we will suffer losses; both in education and everywhere else.

Education must increasingly align itself with the grand and very important goals that exist for it, and I have referred to some of them. The education system must undergo a fundamental transformation in this direction. They are currently working well, and we have no complaints about you in the education sector; however, we believe there is a need for a transformative movement. Thoughtful and insightful designers in organizing and shaping educational environments and classrooms and their content, as well as training teachers and outlining important and clear lines in the education system, must undertake transformative and significant work; this, of course, requires the cooperation of the education sector itself; much cannot be done for education outside of the education sector. Within the education sector, there are wise, distinguished, intelligent, and talented individuals who can be utilized to advance education and address gaps and deficiencies.

I see the future of this educational system as a bright one. The fundamental and reliable point is your compassion, piety, interest, and attachment to the interests of the country; this is the fundamental point. From this spirit, many blessings and benefits arise, and the enemy cannot do anything. God willing, with God's grace and the help of the prayers of the Awaited Savior (may our souls be sacrificed for him) and the blessings of the pure souls of our dear martyrs and the pure spirit of Imam Khomeini (may his soul be sanctified), education will advance towards its further perfection and development. We hope that in the not-too-distant future, we will witness a situation that is truly commensurate with the progress of the times and the needs of the Islamic Republic system.

Peace be upon you and God's mercy and blessings.