Political and educational leaders first began discussions for a day to honor
teachers in 1944.  In 1953, Eleanor Roosevelt persuaded the 81st Congress
to proclaim National Teachers’ Day.  Congress declared March 7, 1980, as
National Teacher Day. The National Education Association continued to
observe Teacher Day on the first Tuesday in March until 1985, when the
National PTA established Teacher Appreciation Week as the first full week
of May.  The NEA Representative Assembly then voted to make the Tuesday
of that week National Teacher Day.  National Teacher Day is an unofficial
national holiday.