Teacher Celebrates Each Student's Unique Talents Beyond Academics
A second-grade teacher in Udon Thani awards merit certificates to all students based on their unique talents and strengths rather than academic performance, believing recognition of individual abilities builds confidence and motivation.
At Ban Kho Pannanusuon School in Udon Thani, second-grade teacher Rajwat Pong Nangchai, known as "Teacher Bomb," has delighted his students by awarding certificates of merit to every child in his class. Rather than basing recognition on academic performance, the teacher acknowledges each student's individual strengths, unique qualities, and positive attributes.
After receiving their certificates, the children beamed with pride in their own particular abilities. Each certificate carries a personalized message reflecting what that student does well. For example, one student received recognition for "making instant noodles for friends at home and cooking rice," while another was praised for "playing the bamboo mouth organ, catching frogs and crabs, and imitating animal sounds." A third student was recognized for his talent in makeup artistry.
Teacher Bomb explains that awarding these certificates of merit has been his practice for several years and continues this year because he believes that small gestures of recognition can inspire children, especially those who may not excel academically but who each possess their own strengths and abilities. "These small certificates serve as encouragement for students," he said. "Some children may not be strong academically, but they all have their own talents. I choose to highlight the good in each of them, and as teachers, we give them support. I want society to recognize that we don't have to focus only on academics. The positive things children are doing are worth celebrating."
Teacher Bomb added that no one can predict a child's future, but discovering what they love and receiving encouragement from the start is a good beginning. His philosophy draws inspiration from Buddhist teachings that emphasize recognizing and appreciating the good in others. He concluded that while finding perfection in a single person may be difficult, if we cultivate the habit of seeing the good qualities in others, it will help children grow with confidence and motivation to develop themselves further.
