This essay on the profession of teachings states some sound reasons why a teacher is an essential part of building a healthy society. In India, where I come from, a teacher is one of the three sacred entities of life of an individual, the other two being mother and father.
If the parents give him the physical eye to discern things in life and world around, the teacher gives him wisdom-eyes to perceive deeper into values that rule our lives, the ability to "see" and understand the truth that ultimately matters.
A child values a teacher because he/she comes next to his/her parents. He respects and obeys the teacher. These values cannot be erased by any number of changes that enter into our lives. A student drops his air of arrogance and hail-fellow-well-met attitude immediately on spotting his or her teacher in the distance.

It is the duty of the parents and the society to safeguard time-honored values like respecting and learning from a dedicated teacher.

Write on!