Thought For The Day – Thursday 5th October 2023
World Teachers’ Day
Today is World Teachers’ Day.
We celebrate and thank all who support and teach and in our school, local area, in the U.K. and around the world.
We also celebrate and thank all staff who work, and play a vital role, in educational communities.
We pay great tribute to students, parents and carers for their crucial role.
An inspirational and iconic teacher was Betty Campbell M.B.E.
Born in Butetown, Cardiff. Betty experienced poverty in Tiger Bay. Betty’s mother struggled financially. Betty’s father had been killed in the Second World War. For Betty, reading, and education, was her escape.
As a school student, when Betty told her headteacher she would like to teach, she received the reply “the problems would be insurmountable”. Betty went back to her desk that day and cried. She was devastated. But Betty became even more resilient and focused. She would change the narrative, smash the glass ceiling and help so many in the process.
Betty qualified to be a teacher and overcame racism when she entered the profession. She became Wales’ first ever black headteacher, inspiring, leading and serving her home area.
After a visit to America, she started educating her students about black history and became one of the founders of Black History Month.
“In our own unique way we were establishing an area where religion, colour didn’t matter – we all respected each other as people”, said Betty.
Betty passed away in the place which she was born, taught and changed the world in October 2017. She was 82 years of age. A statue to Betty was unveiled in Cardiff in 2021.
No surprise then that, on his only visit to Wales in 1998, Nelson Mandela wanted to meet Betty.
We salute this sister.
Education and teaching changes lives. Today is also National Poetry Day.
11 years ago and last year, Musharaf and Mr. Burton. Musharaf is now an inspirational speaker. A symbol of what goes on in schools each and every day:
