Cadi Duncan, 134 TESS
Thai people believe that teachers play a crucial role in the learning and growth of every child; therefore, it is of utmost importance for students to recognize and appreciate the people who impart and facilitate learning. Last week, I had the opportunity to experience one manifestation of that belief – The Wai Kru ceremony. The intention is to express deep respect and gratitude for all teachers and usually takes place at the start of the academic year. This event is usually celebrated on a Thursday, which is believed to be the day of Brihaspati, the vedic god of wisdom and teachers.
Wednesday afternoon, each grade level constructed offerings of flowers, candles, and incense sticks, arranged on a ‘phan’ or traditional Thai pedestal tray. I was invited to help create one of these offerings with the students from prathom 4, the class for which I am the third of the three “classroom teachers”, aka homeroom teachers. The very offering that I helped create was presented to me the very next day at the Wai Kru ceremony.
Each piece of an offering is highly symbolic, and students painstakingly and lovingly create a piece that is incredibly meaningful. Traditionally, a Wai Kru offering includes the following elements:
- ixora flowers: which, while closed, form pointed buds, symbolizing sharp wit
- bermuda grass: the rapid growth and resilience of which symbolize perseverance and the ability to learn
- popped rice: which symbolizes discipline
- eggplant flowers: which bow low when nearing fruiting, symbolizing respect and humility
The offerings created by the students varied in size and shape, but each one was arranged beautifully.
After the opening Buddhist prayer, the representatives from each grade, a male and female student respectively, presented the grade level offerings to the two (or three, in my case) classroom teachers. The students carefully paraded their offerings to the stage, where they prostrated in front of the Buddha shrine then bowed to the king’s image. The representatives then got on their knees and slowly inched across the stage until they were in alignment with their teacher.
While the idea of walking on my knees sounds undoubtedly agonizing, I soon realized that this pain-inducing movement was yet another sign of respect, as the students are not to be “higher” than their teacher. Once the students were in position, they placed the floral offering to the side, performed a wai to the teacher then proceeded to ‘graab’, or bow completely to the ground.
The teachers leaned down and rubbed the back of the student’s head and offered words of encouragement. While I initially thought it was odd to rub the back of the student’s head, I was later informed that the act represents the transfer of knowledge. After the first ‘graab’, the students retrieved their offering and gave it to the teacher sitting in front of them. The students wai-ed once more then performed one more ‘graab’ while the teachers gave the students one more pat for good luck. Once the students sat up, they wiggled their way across the stage on their knees until they reached the stairs, where they could finally stretch their legs.
Once the representatives from each class presented the grade level offerings, each grade level then proceeded to form a line to present their own individual floral offerings to the teachers. These offerings included flower rings, banana leaf cones with freshly picked flowers, and single dandelions hurriedly picked before the start of the ceremony. No matter how elaborate or simple, all gifts were received with love and gratitude.
As “Kru Farang” (the “Foreign Teacher”) at my school, I was struck by the seriousness of the students throughout the ceremony. The students bowed so deeply that their faces literally touched the floor. Never in my life have I gotten on my knees with my face to the ground to show respect to anyone. The act of ‘graab-ing’ showed such humility and reverence that, in the moment, I could not help but shed a few tears. I felt overwhelmed by the entire ceremony as I could feel the students’ appreciation and deference deeply.
As each grade level marched to and from the stage, my mind raced with the thought, “Do these students actually accept me as their teacher?”. While I do not yet know the answer to that question, I do know that student after student gifted me beautiful flowers and even a few hugs. By the closing prayer, my thoughts changed to, “Am I doing all that I can to help these students learn another language?” and “Is there more that I could do for my school and my community?”.
These thoughts still swirl in my head days later, and although I am not sure if I will ever have any substantial answers, I do know this: the Wai Kru ceremony reignited my desire to do whatever is needed to help my students and community grow and prosper. My community is committed to me, and I am without a doubt committed to them.
Sticky Rice 