Father Peter accepts a floral gift
from one of the blind students.
Derek Franklin & Jetsada Homklin
On any given Thursday in June, schools, colleges and universities throughout the
Kingdom hold a Wai Khru ceremony.
This is the day when students pay their respect to their teachers, not just for
passing on their knowledge, but also for the advice, counseling and
encouragement the teachers give to their students throughout the year.
At the Pattaya Redemptorist School for the Blind and the Redemptorist Vocational
School for People with Disabilities, the students took off the morning of June
19 - a Thursday, as that is the day for Brihaspati, the Vedic god of wisdom and
teachers - from study to perform the Wai Khru ceremony.
The blind students proudly show of
their awards.
After spending many hours making decorative floral
arrangements, a student from each class was selected as the one who would
present the gift to a representative from the teaching staff. Each floral
arrangements, or paan, can take many hours, or even days to create, and being
blind or having a disability can make it more difficult. But the students know
what they want, they know what designs they want to make, even the blind
children, and no matter how difficult or long it takes to make their paan, it is
all worth it when paying respect to their teachers.
The vocational students pay
respect to Father Michael and Sister Pavinee.
Prior to the presentation, the students, with hands pressed
together, give several low bows while reciting the student oath.
Student Sasiwimol Raksaphram then read “Good Teacher in My Heart,” which she
wrote. There also was a beautiful flower-tray contest and a song sung by
students to their teachers.
At the vocational school it was Father Michael and Sister Pavinee who accepted
the floral gifts from the students. While over in North Pattaya it was Father
Peter, in his role as President of the Father Ray Foundation, who the blind
children offered their floral arrangements.
While the teachers received gifts from the students, in return they presented
awards to the blind and disabled students who have shown outstanding work in the
classroom or on the sports field. Scholarships were also given to students at
the vocational school whose families may be suffering from financial hardship,
and which will make life easier until the student graduates and finds suitable
employment.
More information can be found at www.fr-ray.org or email
[email protected].
A Redemptorist Vocational student
presents a beautiful flower cone to Father Michael.
Two award winning floral
arrangements.
The blind students pay respect to
their teachers.
The paans can take many hours to
produce.
The students with disabilities
repeat the students’ oath.
Redemptorist students line up to
show respect to their teachers.
Yanyong Pattaloha, founder of the
Withoon-Nuanphen Pattaloha Fund, donated 14 scholarships, each worth 10,000
baht.
