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Published: November 20th 2010
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Well this happened in the first week that we arrived in Thailand but I have only just got around to writing this and sorting the photos from the day. It is a celebration of thanks for the teachers of the school. Every Thai school has Teacher Appreciation day but not necessarily on the same day. It is more of an assembly than a whole day but the overall atmosphere of the day is very relaxed and not much actual work gets done but it was amazing to see. The assembly is organised by the school committee with only a small amount of help from some of the Thai teachers.
Each morning every Thai school performs what is known as ‘flag line’, where the national flag is raised and the national anthem sung whilst the students stand in perfectly straight lines! On Teachers Day this was also organised and run by the student council. The students were then directed up to the hall and organised by all the students as to where to sit. Even the teachers were organised into a specific order by the students and had to wait until called by them to go up to the hall!
The teachers then sit on the stage in their given positions and the students sit in the main body of the hall on the floor. I stood at the back and watched in amazement as on the strike of two wooden sticks the entire student body bowed and on the strike of a piano note sat up straight again! Not a spoken word was given! Each teacher was given a flower arrangement but even this was precisely organised and carried out. Each line of students came up onto the stage and knelt in front of the teacher they were giving the arrangement to. They then placed the arrangement on the floor and on the strike of the two sticks bowed, they then handed the arrangement to the teacher and bowed again. They then stood up and walked off the stage. All this done without a sound. The teachers were then asked to move around so the next line were in the front chairs to receive their arrangements.
Once all the flowers were handed to the teachers a series of students performed and songs sung by the whole school. It was all compared by the President of the school council
and run by the students. There was no chatting, no messing about and if the little ones weren’t doing what they should they were helped out and told by the older ones. With each change of movement i.e. which way to sit or to stand up was all hand signals and the tap of two wooden sticks.
After the performances and songs a ceremony of tying of the blessed string occurs. This is where a knotted string is tied around the wrist of the student by a teacher to wish them good luck and grades for the coming year. It was all very civilised to begin with but then became a bit of a free for all. Students wanted string from each of their teachers or from their favourite teachers at least - even I was asked to tie some! Students really showed a great deal of respect for each and every teacher and in return the teachers had a high level of respect for their students.
After this I went down to Kindergarten’s Teachers Day. They don’t take part in the main school one because of its length and trying to get them to sit still for
that long would be difficult! It was done slightly differently in Kindergarten. Each student had made a flower arrangement to give to their teacher and assistants, but with two main arrangements being given out first. Because Shirley had taken me down to the ceremony she was granted guest of honour and received some flowers as well! Each student came forward then went onto their knees and moved forward toward their teacher, each then handed them the arrangement and bowed before receiving their blessed string. They sang a song standing up and sat still on chairs for about 30 minutes without much supervision as their teacher and assistants were at the front receiving the flowers!!
It was such a lovely day and it was great to see how the students really did appreciate the work their teachers do and it was such a lovely way to show it.
Think we can get it to take of in the UK???!!!
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Tim Blair
non-member comment
Hello from an old teacher
Dear Keely Thank you so much for all the effort you have put into your travelblog. It has been fascinating to follow your travels. It has brought back many happy memories for me and also reminded me that there is so much more for me to see. How did you arrange your visit to the school? Your account was very interesting and would make a good assembly, better still if you came back and delivered it (no Pressure). I hope you continue to have a great time and I look forward to reading your next installment. Love Tim/Mr Blair