Jon and I have just experienced another difference in Thai schools! Teacher Appreciation Day or "Whai Kroo" - kroo being Thai for teacher. Who says we can't speak the language.




It's a day when the students have to show their respect and appreciation to their teachers by going on their knees and bowing before them. At my school, this was accompanied by much praying and singing.


The day before, the senior students spend a lot of lesson time making elaborate flower arrangements. The flowers used are symbolic e.g. red pointed petals for sharpness of mind. The arrangements were then formally presented in a morning ceremony which took a couple of hours. At my school, the senior students presented the flowers by going on their knees through the courtyard, past the teachers and onto the stage.

 
The younger students carried posies of flowers to school which they then presented to their teachers. All very sweet! The local flower shops must have made a fortune that week.



In Thailand, the students address their teachers by their first name, so I am Teacher Rita. I rather like it. Jon chose Teacher Baxter for his title. So...T. Rita and T. Baxter had flowers bestowed on them in their respective schools.

 

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