Exercises

National treasures

Photos courtesy of Bangkok Post

What�s so special about January 16

While Wai Khru day is the day that all students get to pay their respects to their teachers, January 16 marks Thailand�s official National Teachers� Day. You probably know this already, but do you know the history behind the day? Probably not, but don�t worry � Student Weekly is here to help.

It all started way back in 1956, 11 years after the Thai Teachers Act first came into force. At that time, teachers around the country felt that they needed to express their opinions in newspapers and other media as well as stress the importance of their job.

As part of all this, teachers also wanted a National Teachers� Day to be established.

IT�S A DATE

Organising all this fell to then-prime minister Field Marshal Por Pibulsongkram. He discussed it with his government and fixed the date as January 16, the same day that the Thai Teachers Act was originally enacted.

National Teachers� Day was first observed in 1957, although it wasn�t until 1996 that the tradition of giving orchids to teachers started.

Orchids are long-lasting flowers that can survive under all kinds of adverse conditions, representing the commitment of teachers to their jobs. The blooming of the flower also represents the time it takes to blossom and succeed in education.

National Teachers� Day falls on a Wednesday this year. We hope that you pay a visit to the local florist on that day to show your teachers how much you appreciate them.

Exercise

1. When did the Thai Teachers Act come into force?

2. Look at the word adverse. Do you know what it means? Can you guess from the context?

3. What word in the text means flower seller?

Discussion

While an orchid is given to teachers on National Teachers� Day, can you think of anything else that would symbolise teachers qualities?

	come into force (phrasal v): for a new law or rule to start being used express (v): to show or make known a feeling or opinion media (n): the ways that large numbers of people receive information and entertainment, such as television, radio, newspapers, etc. stress (v): to emphasise a fact or an idea enact (v): to pass a law commitment (n): the willingness to work hard and give your energy and time to a job