Recognize the Chatra 5 floor on its badge? That emblem signifies Wat Rajabopit School. The Royal 5-Tiered Umbrella shows this school’s deep connection to the temple.
Wat Rajabopit School stands as a testament to Thailand’s educational evolution. Established in 1886, the school has a rich history. King Chulalongkorn, also known as Rama V, reigned when it was founded. “Rajabopit” itself means “established by the king”.
Krom Praya Damrong Rajanubhab founded Wat Rajabopit School. It began as an Art Thai language school. This was near the start of Thailand’s modern education system. Prince Monk Arunnipakunakorn, then abbot of Wat Rajabopit, agreed with the Department of Education to establish the school. The Royal Thai Government Gazette officially recognized “Wat Rajabopit School.”
Initially, the school used the monastery’s sermon hall. This hall was located beside Fueang Nakhon Road. Monks had previously used it as a storehouse.
Wat Rajabopit School began small. It had 53 students and two teachers. Mr. Kawee served as the first principal. Pranakharase, also known as Mongkol Amatyakul, was the first student to pass Prayok in 1888.
Three years later, Mr. Payom became principal. The school grew quickly. Prince Arunnipakunakorn allowed the school to expand. It moved to the ground floor of his parsonage and then into three temple pavilions. At that time, Wat Rajabopit School served 100 students in primary grades 1–4. Luang Chamnan Anusan was the principal then.
The school’s motto is inspiring. It translates to “people who are not suffering because they have perseverance.” This motto reflects the values Wat Rajabopit School instills in its students.
The school colors hold meaning too. White symbolizes purity, representing Buddhism and the school’s temple origins. Yellow represents the monks and the grace of the school’s patron. The patron’s care helped the school improve continuously.
Look around for the Burma Padauk trees. Also called Pterocarpus macrocarpus, these are the school’s representative tree. You can find them planted around the school grounds.
Wat Rajabopit School promotes the “Gentlemen Buddhist Way.” This emphasizes studying well, participating in featured activities, and focusing on moral development. The acronym R.B. on the school badge stands for Wat Rajabopit. This underlines the continuous patronage of the abbot and temple since the school’s beginning.