07/02/2026
Don’t ever tell a teacher, “Oh, you get to finish work at 1.30pm, that’s great!” — big mistake.
(𝑻𝒆𝒂𝒄𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒔, 𝑰 𝒘𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒔 𝒐𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 - 𝒔𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒔𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒚)
Here are 2 things you should never tell a teacher, and I’ll explain why.
1️⃣ “Oh, you get to finish work at 1.30pm, that’s great!”
2️⃣ “Oh, you get 3 months of paid leave, that’s great!”
I’ve worked in both the education field and the business field (6+ years in each). Both have their own work pressures in my opinion.
The stress in the business field mainly comes from the 𝐟𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐞, strict deadlines, and client demands. But the pay is decent, career growth is visible, and you usually get benefits like insurance.
The stress in teaching, on the other hand, comes from 𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐲 𝐝𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧. Most schools have 30–40 students in one class, and only a teacher knows how much energy it takes to control a class, hold attention of students’ with multiple personalities and learning levels, and make lessons interesting and understandable. On top of that, teachers handle countless extra duties, lesson planning, and hours of preparation beyond classroom time.
Additionally, most classrooms aren’t air-conditioned (while most offices are), and teachers often have to walk around with heavy bags under the hot sun. A teacher finishing work at 1.30pm could easily be more exhausted than a corporate employee (I have a right to say this as I’ve worked in both fields, including a high-pressure sales job). That said, teaching is a bit slower-paced and doesn’t carry the same customer pressure as the corporate world (which is great!).
But the biggest issue is pay and career growth. Teachers get paid peanuts! Their workload, stress, and the value they create are on par with the corporate sector. Just ask your teacher friends how much they earn, you’ll be surprised. There’s little hope of significant income growth over the years, with annual increments often being just Rs. 500–5,000. Without proper performance evaluations or increment systems, many teachers end up doing tuition classes, basically working two jobs to make ends meet.
So this Teacher’s Day, remember what you shouldn’t say to a teacher when you meet them. Instead, try these two, and watch their reaction:
1️⃣ “That’s not an easy job. I wish you were paid more. Hopefully, the system changes one day.”
2️⃣ “Take a good break during your holidays. You truly deserve the rest.”
Oh, I have a lot more to say about teaching, and I will in the future. But I really wanted to share this as we celebrate Teacher’s Day. One day I'll do something to bring this change in schools.
A very Happy Teachers' Day to all the amazing teachers across the world. I pray that one day, you’ll be paid what you truly deserve. Much love ❤️
Note: This post is for all the hardworking teachers. Not the ice gahana or toxic ones who’ve ruined the lives of many.
