Wai Khru Ceremony
By Richard Barrow 
Thursday 9th June, 2005 | 247 words | Category: School Life | 8 feedbacks »
I think one of the highlights for us during the first semester is the Wai Khru Ceremony. This is when the students pay respects to their teachers and present them with flowers or jasmine garlands. I have tried to explain this ceremony to some teacher friends from America and they found it difficult to comprehend. They said that no way would American students prostrate at the feet of their teachers. But, that is exactly what happens here. In some ways this is like lay people making an offering to a monk. That is how highly teachers are respected in Thailand. The students are making merit in order to gain good fortune over the coming academic year. When we receive the flowers we are not supposed to say "thank you" though I am often tempted to do so. We should take this opportunity to give them some good advice for their future and also to wish them good luck and say that we hope they will get good grades.
Representatives from each class present their teachers with flower arrangements they made themselves the day before
Afterwards, all of the students prostrate at the feet of their teachers
A few facts...
* Most students presented the kem flower which means needle in Thai. This is symbolic as the students think this will make them sharp-witted.
* Other schools will hold this ceremony on different weeks but they will all hold it on a Thursday. This day is considered auspicious for teachers.
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8 comments
How is discipline kept in Thai schools ? Are parents very much more involved with schools than in the UK? What powers do teachers have over pupils, so far as discipline goes? Or is the good discipline and politeness of Thai school pupils something that naturally arises from a society where respect for others is still paramount?
Wai Kru seems very uniquely Thai.
I doubt it is an Asian culture as well. The Chinese have strong respects to the teachers and the education system, but it is more about fear than respect. In Malaysia, Chinese schools are among the most disciplinarian, with teachers having a close reach of the cane.
I was not so lucky, I was brought up in the national type (mainly English) where discipline or respect for the teacher is less apparent. IN fact, I remember in school, we had parents complaining to the head master that teachers are too harsh!
Most westerners would imagine that the students hate such ceremony but thats not the truth.
Having taught at High School Level i soon found out that i lot of the kids (especially the better ones) enjoy the chance to pay such respects to their teachers and of course 'make 'merit'.
Kind of opposite to over there, say in the west, where absolutely no respect is shown to teachers.
In response to Robert's comment there i'll give you some more additional info.
The teachers are not 'wai-ing' the students at all, that is just part of the ceremony. Like on hearing a speech from a monk, you are supposed to place your palms together but its not the same as 'wai-ing'.
Another instance is when someone wishes you good-luck, you can place your palms together and say out loud 'Sathu'. Which kinda means 'i hope it comes true!'
Its always cute at the end of the school year on wishing the class best of luck for the new year, new school etc.. they whole class is sat there with their palms together and all shout out 'Sathu!' at the end.
last example is, like on receiving money ie salary or money from your mom etc.. Thais will also kind of 'wai' at the money on before receipt than at the actual giver.
Without Richard's fotos, Thai-blogs would not be what it is!
So after a few rehearsal, and then singing it at the ceremony, despite the fact that you so hate a certain teachers, Wai Kru seems to make you forget that for a moment and make you remember the importance of teachers.
There's also a Wai Kru of an entirely different kind for folks in the entertainment industry. I have an article on that, and will write up something this weekend.
Also about "wai" back to the students. For adults and superiors, they have to put their hands in a waii position with a little nod as a "Rabb Wai", receiving of a wai. It's an acknowledgement as well as showing a little respect to the other person.
When you give money to a beggar for example, they waii you, but you don't have to Rabb Wai that. Technically, one should always Rabb Wai to be polite, but when the social stature is hugely different, people don't tend to do it.
Now, there's whole other story about "waii" for me. Dang, story ideas runneth over this Friday morning!
That's it. It's gloomy Friday morning, and I am slacking off! :)
And I got some flowers too! :p
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