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| My school in Thailand (Rayongwittayakom School ) |
Wai Kru Ceremony or Respect Day |
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Life in a Thai school in some ways is quite similar to other schools around the world. However, the fascinating Thai culture helps contribute to some intriguing differences. These range from simple things such as shoes not being allowed to be worn in the school buildings to the annual Wai Kru Ceremony where all of the students bow down low in obeisance towards their teachers. |
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The most important event to be held at school is the annual Wai Kru Ceremony. Like other schools around the country this always takes place towards the start of the new academic year and always on a Thursday. The students pay respect to their teachers by presenting them with flowers and going down onto the floor to do a krab which is the most respectful way to show respect respectful way to show respect The students hope to gain merit and good fortune for the coming year. Quite often, students who have moved onto other schools come back to present their teachers with flower garlands. |
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Each class takes part in a competition to design the best flower arrangement (see top pictures). But each individual student also comes to school with their own bunch of flowers. The flowers used in the arrangement are symbolic. Dok Ma Khue (egg plant flower) stands for respect because when the tree is blooming its branches bend down in the same way a student pays respect to their teacher. Ya Praek (Bermuda grass) stands for patience or perseverance because although the grass looks wilted it is still very much alive. Khao Tok (popped rice) stands for discipline because the rice is placed in a pan together and heated up to become popped rice. The Dok Kem has the same name as the Thai word for needle. So it means the student will be sharp-witted and brainy.
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