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The controversy over whether Teachers' Day should be moved from the present September 10 to September 28, the birthday of Confucius, hit the headlines again before the 22nd Teachers' Day on Sunday.

Some members of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference put forward the motion for the first time in 2004 on the grounds that Confucius was the first private teacher in the history of China and joining the two occasions together could add to its cultural connotation and significance.

It could be so. But it has been 22 years since the first Teachers' Day was initiated, and the entire nation has become accustomed to observing September 10. That is why an official from the Ministry of Education said that such a change should not be made unless it could be proven to be necessary.

To be fair, this special occasion is just a symbolic reminder that all people, students in particular, should hold their teachers in reverence for their efforts to pass knowledge onto them. It is also an occasion for teachers to reflect on their own self-improvement in terms of knowledge and personal integrity.

From this perspective, it is not that important on which date this reminder is fixed. What really matters is whether this special occasion can indeed remind us of the problems some teachers are facing in their positions, how we can improve the quality of our teachers and in what way we can do away with the unhealthy tendencies in the relationship between teachers and students.

What we usually do on that day is honour those selected outstanding teachers in the form of cash or a prize. This is necessary because we need the example of these outstanding teachers to encourage others to do a better job. But more concerns call for our attention.

Can we initiate some kind of campaign to help those teachers in remote rural areas on this special occasion? Of the total number of teachers in excess of 12 million, more than 8 million are in rural areas. They are underpaid, and some even have their salaries in arrears. Can we conduct surveys on how satisfied primary and middle school students are with their teachers? Then we may find out, to some extent, the general quality of teachers at this level.

Can we conduct investigations into what kind of gifts students give their teachers during Teachers' Day and how these gifts affect their relationship?

When the occasion was first observed in 1985, it was of great significance to re-establish the images and prestige of teachers after they had been reduced to the lowest social stratum during the "cultural revolution" (1966-76), when they were supposed to be re-educated by farmers and workers.

The situation is different after many years of market economy development. But the way we mark this special day is still the same.

We can do much more to add to the meaning of this day than simply change its date.

(China Daily September 12, 2006)