Thread: Wai Kru Day: Meangingful or Meaningless?

Here's another Wai Kru Day thread to join the others in the Ajarn Forum thread graveyard.

For those who are new, and from what I've heard there are more and more newbies each week on this board, "Wai Kru Day" is a day that Thai schools set aside each year for students to pay their respects to their teachers. It actually takes two days, as one day is for preparing flowers that are given to the teachers.

Students crawl on their knees before their teachers and hand them some flowers. The teachers thank them. That's about it. Nevertheless, two days are used without much thought as to the cost/benefit of the whole thing.

Our school's Wai Kru Day began today with preparation. Tomorrow is the ceremony.

I have never participated in Wai Kru Day. I simply do not show up. I feel very uncomfortable when people are groveling before me on their knees. I even feel strange when Thai students sit on the floor next to their Thai teachers in the teacher's office. It reminds me of my dog back in the states nestling at my feet.

Today, before preparations began, I shared a few words with my students as to why I wasn't going to attend Wai Kru Day. In the end, most of them could careless, but since the the Thai government has instructed me to teach language AND culture, I felt this a good opportunity to do so.

So I gave them my spill telling them that I'd rather they stand up straight, look me in the eye, and communicate with me in a clear voice and on an equal level as my father taught me to do when I was a child and not cower like some lower creature.

I told them that if they want to show me respect they can show up to class on time, listen and not talk to each other when I'm teaching, participate in class, and complete their homework on time. I told them that while I have to assert control in class, outside of class we are equal and they are no higher or lower than I am. I told them that while there are divisions in my country, the idea of equality is stressed from a very young age.

My words were met mostly with glazed eye indifference. A couple seem to acknowledge what I was saying. I didn't openly critisize the ceremony, but emphasized that it made me uncomfortable to have people crawling around on the ground in some kind of tribute.

So is Wai Kru Day worthwhile? Does it deserve the time it's given?

Originally Posted by panhunger

I have never participated in Wai Kru Day.

So shut the f*ck up.

We had ours a couple of weeks ago. They only bought flowers for the heads of departments and other assorted "important" people that I've never seen before. They dragged the ceremony on for 4 hours though. Particurly boring for the 3 farangs as it was all in thai.

I'm closer to the age of the kids than most the thai teachers so the kids don't show me the same "respect" that the other teachers get, I still feel awquard and giggle to myself when they wai me. Much happier when they just shout "hey!" and wave!. Seemed like a waste of time, but hey I got half a day off out of it and a couple of roses from the girls.

apart from a few crap ties as a present
complete fucking joke

I agree, it does drag on a bit (4 hours? Sheesh!) but a little bit of tradition, and respect between teacher and student, seems to me to be an oasis in a desert of modernity and lack of compassion between human beings.
Give it a bit more 'theatre' and keep it short and sweet and I'm sure even the Pannies of this world would find it moving.

Is it meaningful? Yes, for this culture it's very important; thus the 1 day prep and most of a second day ceremony. That said; my 1st year I thought it was charming and have liked it less every year until my 5th Wai Khru day when I hated it.

Ground Hog day meaningless or meaningful, Veterans Day Meaningful or meaningless ?

The list is endless.At the end of the day its a culture matter a personal belief matter.Our Wai Kru Day lasts a maximum 45 minutes.

Not a lot to ask from a teacher to attend the Wai Kru ceremony is it ? I've had no problems in my 18 years or so here.

Our own children observe Wai Kru in their school and enjoy it as they feel they can show their personal thanks to their teachers.

Children give respect to we teachers,we teachers should return that compliment as a role model action.

Have them grovel goddamit! Make them do it everyday. Grovel you swine! Grovel!

Originally Posted by panhunger

So I gave them my spill telling them that I'd rather they stand up straight, look me in the eye, and communicate with me in a clear voice and on an equal level as my father taught me to do when I was a child and not cower like some lower creature. I told them that if they want to show me respect they can show up to class on time, listen and not talk to each other when I'm teaching, participate in class, and complete their homework on time. I told them that while I have to assert control in class, outside of class we are equal and they are no higher or lower than I am. I told them that while there are divisions in my country, the idea of equality is stressed from a very young age.

Did you do any laying on of hands Pannie.

yeah, it is a joke, but having children, I'm definately going to give them their flowers to wai their teachers with.
first, don't want my kids feeling left out...
second, don't want the homeroom teacher to think that I don't appreciate what they are doing.

Well, the kids really seem to take it seriously, so I'd say that it is meaningful for them.

But a friend of mine really summed it up when he said, "I wish that they would just keep the flowers and the waiing today and just show their respect by sitting down and paying attention the rest of the year!"

yeah, I just don't like the crawling around on the ground like mutts or something. There is no dignity in that. Show some respect by shutting your trap when it's time to listen.