Wai Kru day is a day set aside on a Thursday in June each year. The students spend several days practicing sitting still in the meeting hall while a boy and girl from each class hold a book and walk to the front of the meeting hall, onto the stage, walk in unison from opposite sides, get on your knees, and shuffle up to the teachers. Then they have to practice bowing before the teachers. There is a precise way that you are to bow, with your legs in a certain way, your left arm first, then the right (I think), a certain amount of time to bow, then getting up in unison and exciting the way you came. It is all about the ceremony and showing respect for the teachers. There are special songs for this day, and a few years ago a very touching video would circulate amongst the Thais this time of year. It is all to remind students to respect the teachers. At our school, many young teachers are now teaching alongside those that taught them, so they set the example of respecting the older teachers as well. We are constantly learning, and constantly teaching. On the real day, each class has two flower arrangements that the representatives present. There are certain things that must be in each arrangement and they each have meaning and significance. Teachers are assigned to judge the arrangements and they receive snacks as prizes. Overall it is usually a good day. The students are reminded to respect the teacher's and I think the teachers see how important the lives of each student really is. For me it is a reminder of why I'm here. Seeing all of those little faces bowing and singing about their respect for teachers reminds me how influential each little thing I say and do can be. Both in a positive and negative way. Please pray for our teachers and students this year as we live our lives together each day in and out of the classroom, that we would respect and love each other in all that we do.
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| Filing into the meeting hall for practice the first day. |
God Bless You
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Practicing the standing and singing part with 7th graders
watching over the younger ones.
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| Practicing using books |
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Teacher's working with the Kindergarteners to teach them how
to properly bow.
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| This one was so cute in the shape of a heart. |
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| The rows of arrangements ready to give the teachers |
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| A student performing a Thai dance for the teachers |
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| The school choir singing one of the songs written especially for this day. |
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All of the students singing the little ditty that they say every year.
(I should probably figure out what they are saying, I'm sure it's something
about respecting their teachers and the significance of teachers)
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| Some Kindergarteners carrying their arrangements |
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| Seventh graders presenting their arrangements |
Wai Kru day is a day set aside on a Thursday in June each year. The students spend several days practicing sitting still in the meeting hall while a boy and girl from each class hold a book and walk to the front of the meeting hall, onto the stage, walk in unison from opposite sides, get on your knees, and shuffle up to the teachers. Then they have to practice bowing before the teachers. There is a precise way that you are to bow, with your legs in a certain way, your left arm first, then the right (I think), a certain amount of time to bow, then getting up in unison and exciting the way you came. It is all about the ceremony and showing respect for the teachers. There are special songs for this day, and a few years ago a very touching video would circulate amongst the Thais this time of year. It is all to remind students to respect the teachers. At our school, many young teachers are now teaching alongside those that taught them, so they set the example of respecting the older teachers as well. We are constantly learning, and constantly teaching. On the real day, each class has two flower arrangements that the representatives present. There are certain things that must be in each arrangement and they each have meaning and significance. Teachers are assigned to judge the arrangements and they receive snacks as prizes. Overall it is usually a good day. The students are reminded to respect the teacher's and I think the teachers see how important the lives of each student really is. For me it is a reminder of why I'm here. Seeing all of those little faces bowing and singing about their respect for teachers reminds me how influential each little thing I say and do can be. Both in a positive and negative way. Please pray for our teachers and students this year as we live our lives together each day in and out of the classroom, that we would respect and love each other in all that we do. 
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