IgboChief

1 minute ago, Bobbie Davies said:

No, no I am not saying your daughter doesn’t go to a good school. I’m sure she does. Like I said some schools are better than others from a Western viewpoint. Out of curiosity, does she go to a government school, a international school, private school, what?

Primary school was a private school in Udon, all Thai Students except 3 expat kids. Despite ignoring their "rules" they still featured my daughter on all of their advertisements and wanted to hire me as a teacher. Never had any bad experience there, except one time a younger teacher stroke my daughter, I sorted it out and never anything happened again as long as my daughter was there.

Now it is an international school, 60% Thai Children.

3 minutes ago, Bobbie Davies said:

Or that the “wai” has several degrees based on the status of the person you are talking to?

Sure I do, and my wai is always below the heart, except for people who actually deserve it from my heart.

3 minutes ago, Bobbie Davies said:

We and our children are guests in Thailand no matter how long we are here (assuming you do not go the citizenship route) and not the rulers.

My daughter is Thai citizen with a Thai passport. She is not guest to anyone, but has full rights.

3 minutes ago, Bobbie Davies said:

Many countries allow corporal punishment in their schools from standing against the wall in a squat,

But Thailand does not, its illegal. Thailand is not as backward as you paint it. My daughter attends an excellent school in Chiang Mai with most revered teachers.

Lookup my name, I do know real savage countries, where we burn thieves in tires on the road. Trust me, nobody would let a teacher strike his kids there. We would solve this matter and teachers know that.

My point is: Thailand knows better!

42 minutes ago, Bobbie Davies said:

Is what the teacher did actually against the law?

Yes, it actually is. Read the law, it is surprisingly strong , clear and modern. (Just bad enforcement as so often.)

Quote

Thai Law against corporal punishment in schools
Corporal punishment is unlawful in all schools under the Ministry of Education
Regulation on Student Punishment (2005) and the National Committee on Child
Protection Regulation on Working Procedures of Child Protection Officers Involved
in Promoting Behaviour of Students (2005), pursuant to article 65 of the Child
Protection Act.
การลงโทษทางกายเปน*สงผดกฎหมายในโรงเรยน* ตามกฎกระทรวงศกษาธการ (พ.ศ.
2548) และ ระเบยบคณะกรรมการค$%มครองเด'กแห(งชาต
ว(าด%วยหล*กเกณฑ,การปฏบ*ตหน%าทพน*กงานเจ%าหน%าทส(งเสรมความประพฤตน*กเรยนและน*กศกษา
(พ.ศ. 2548) ตามมาตรา 65 แห(งพระราชบ*ญญ*ตค$%มครองเด'ก
1, This applies to ALL schools in Thailand with NO exceptions be they public
or private institutions! If a school tells you different then they are wrong
and you should be wary of schools who are ignorant of the law.
กฎน1บ*งค*บใช%ก*บท$กโรงเรยนในประเทศไทยโดยไม(มข%อยกเว%นว(าจะเปนโรงเรยนร*ฐหร5อเอกชน
ถ%าโรงเรยนใดแจ%งให%ท(านทราบต(างไปจากน1 แสดงว(าโรงเรยนเหล(าน*1นไม(ถ7กต%อง
และท(านควรระม*ดระว*งโรงเรยนทเพกเฉยต(อกฎหมาย
2. There is no such thing as a parental opt out. Individuals cannot "opt
out" of the law of the land. Any teacher who hits a child with parental
permission is STILL breaking the law.
ไม(มการเล5อกปฏบ*ตจากผ7%ปกครอง ไม(มบ$คคลใดถ7ก "เล5อกปฏบ*ต"
จากกฎหมายของบ%านเม5อง
คร7คนใดทตน*กเรยนโดยทผ7%ปกครองอน$ญาตก'ถ5อว(าก9าล*งท9าผดกฎหมายอย7(ด
3. That parents of children who are hit can demand financial compensation
from the school. (nothing like money to make parents become more active).
บอกผ7%ปกครอง โดยผ7%ปกครองสามารถเรยกร%องค(าชดเชยจากโรงเรยน
และสามารถร%องเรยให%มการสอบสวนทางวน*ยคร7ได%
4. The new Women`s and Child protection Unit of the Royal Thai police what to
catch and punish teachers who hit kids (they are behind the website)
ขอบค$ณมาก เราสามารถกย$ตการลงโทษทางกายได%
เพราะหน(วยงานของกรมต9ารวจด%านค$%มครองเด'กและสตร
ต%องการทจะจ*บก$มและลงโทษคร7คนใดก'ตามทตเด'ก
5. Remember a teacher who hits a child has broken the law and you are
entitled to protection from people who commit a crime.
โปรดจ9าไว%ว(า คร7ทตเด'กน*1นท9าผดกฎหมาย
และค$ณมสทธ:ได%ร*บการปกป;องให%พ%นจากบ$คคลทก9าล*งก(ออาชญากรรม
6. You should NOT respect people who break the law.
ค$ณ*ไม(ควร*เคารพบ$คคลทท9าผดกฎหมาย
7. You should report all events of teachers hitting kids to your local
police.
ค$ณควรแจ%งความคร7ท$กคนทตเด'กต(อเจ%าหน%าทต9ารวจ
8. The Thai Ministry of Education recommends that children who have been hit
by a teacher to report the matter. See the MOE website below (it is in
Thai).
กระทรวงศกษาธการแนะน9าให%น*กเรยนทถ7กคร7ตร%องเรยน โปรดอ(านเวบไซต,ของ ศธ.
ด%านล(างน1 (เปนภาษาไทย)
9. Corporal punishment is illegal in Thailand. Any teacher who hits a child
is breaking the law. If you break the law you are committing a crime. If you
commit a crime you are a *criminal*!
การลงโทษทางกายเปนสงผดกฎหมายในประเทศไทย
คร7คนใดก'ตามทตเด'กถ5อว(าก9าล*งท9าผดกฎหมาย ถ%าค$ณท9าผดกฎหมาย
ค$ณก'ก9าล*งก(ออาชญากรรม ถ%าค$ณก(ออาชญากรรม ค$ณก'ค5อ*อาชญากร*!

 

1 minute ago, Bobbie Davies said:

That is not violence.

I have to oppose that passionately: in my book violence is anything and everything, which hurts you --e specially when its conducted from a position of overwhelming strength and power.

A 16 year old, strong boy would have stood that and it would never have happened that way. And thus, when its done to a 6 years old, its violence and abuse (although non physical). Simple like that.

Question: If I come at you and staple you, how would you react? a) you just take it and smile or b) you punch me straight into the face (lets assume I was not taller/bigger/younger/stronger).

I bet 1000 bucks, it would be b) answer. Now, ask yourself why no smile and take it, when it was no violence at all.

34 minutes ago, Bobbie Davies said:

Yes my father did defend us, to the hilt, they just did not have a problem with the notes. I also certainly understand the nonconformity issue. I desperately wanted to belong at that age. And of course, we should not go back to shaming children.

Good on your dad then, I also understand that things happened at a different time -- and they just did not know much better then (alas it must have been 50 years ago or so).

I agree, we should not glorify those times and don't justify what we wrong then and still is today.

28 minutes ago, Bobbie Davies said:

You can’t throw away a teachers entire career for a note pinned to a shirt, once.

Well, I can and I am glad I can -- because that kind of "teacher" should never have entered a school, not even as a janitor.

Just to put things in comparison: At our present school in Chiang Mai a teacher lost his job (with compensation) about un-proven allegations from 20 years ago! Which is the extreme on the other end and not a good example at all. I just want to prove what common sense about that topic yields.

32 minutes ago, Bobbie Davies said:

Naturally we would not do that today, I can’t think of a Westerner who would.

I agree on that one and leave it like that.

7 minutes ago, Bobbie Davies said:

never ever touch a 6 year old

Which clearly was related to Violence, not to Love or social interaction. We must come from very different background if there is a misunderstanding here,.

5 minutes ago, SAFETY FIRST said:

pathetic, poor attitude

You are free to judge my attitude.

However you miss completely the point again: If there is a problem with a 6 year old, then hold the parents accountable. If you can't stand the non-compliance, then dismiss the family from that school.

But never ever touch a 6 year old.

Btw, my daughter quite often showed up in the wrong dress or on public holidays etc. -- simply because we did not understand their tradition (and honestly did not care at all).

If my daughter got notice less than 48h about a special dress requirement, I told her to ignore and to explain it exactly in that way and to request to speak to me in case of any problems. She learned more from that about life than from all that costume drama together.

Children main gather knowledge in school -- but experience from their parents.

2 hours ago, Bobbie Davies said:

As a kid I actually did have teachers that pinned notes to our shirts or coats. Not big old signposts, but it did happen and no one cared.

I feel sorry for your that your dad did not have the guts or interest to stand up for you. Mine always did and so I do for my daughter. Seems to be a bit of an issue with social development.

2 hours ago, Bobbie Davies said:

Makes no mention at all of any embarrassment on the part of the child. Just that other kids were looking. No mention of crying or what have you.

If you think, that this incident did not carve a long lasting impression then you must seriously lack a sense of fairness and just -- maybe linked to your own scars (see above).

2 hours ago, Bobbie Davies said:

Not like the dunce hats we had to sit in the corner with as children, and yes it happened. So did corporal punishment if some of you don’t remember. And sometimes mandatory haircuts. This all in the US.

I am lost of what you try to say here: When bad things happened in the woods 50 years ago, we consider them ok? Why not go back to a good old flaying? I mean, THAT would teach them -- right?

2 hours ago, Bobbie Davies said:

The kid showing up in the wrong clothing could be a big issue.

Cancer is a big issue. War is a big issue.

A 6 year old in wrong clothes is NOTHING. Not in any culture or any country. And don't say "Thailand", there are actually excellent schools in Thailand and very educated people.

2 hours ago, Bobbie Davies said:

and there is an implication that they were not even looking at the messages, let alone answering.

Sure, do that to my kid and there would be definitely implications.

If there is any problem with a student, big or small, the CALL THE PARENTS and hold them accountable. If you touch a 6 year old (unless there is immediate danger to prevent), then you are unfit for any job, but especially as a teacher.

Ask yourself a simple question: Would they have dared doing the same on a 16 year old student (not too wimpy)? I guess not and this demonstrates all what went wrong here: its pure bullying and abuse of power.

7 minutes ago, StevieAus said:

As far as uniforms generally I believe it creates a sense of belonging and ensures that some kids don’t turn up in designer labels and others in shabby clothes.

 

Serve yourself as you like, I have a very different opinion on that. And everyone in "our" school knew that. They dared to stroke my daughter exactly 1 time 6 years ago -- after that according to her, nobody ever touched a child there again (at least until she left 3 years ago.)

And no, its not a Thai or culture problem. Its a problem of savages. She attends now a better school in Chiang Mai and suddenly such issues don't exist.

4 hours ago, ikke1959 said:

Why punish the teacher???

I don't think the teacher has been punished yet in anyway because I did not read a word about an industrial stapler gun.

https://gearsofwar.fandom.com/wiki/Industrial_Staple_Gun?file=Industrial_Staple_Gun_2.jpg

8 hours ago, proton said:

polygamy

What's wrong with that?

1 hour ago, Mr Meeseeks said:

Sure, corruption happens in the West too, but there are mechanisms in place that actually function to deal with it and punishments are severe if caught. 

Those mechanisms exists everywhere: Call the Commissioner of Police and there will be apologies and punishment.

Of course, when you are without your phone and constraint to your un-inflamable mattress in a police cell in Germany -- and suddenly burn to ashes, then this is no-ones fault and definitely no case of corruption.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_of_Oury_Jalloh

1 hour ago, RichardColeman said:

With respects your airline should have asked all of the same questions prior to boarding - least Thai Airways UK staffing did with me during check-in 

Which can be annoying as hell: I travel to West Africa regularly where I also have Residence Permit. On my way back to Thailand I have had hard times to explain to them, that I am on my return flight and so do not need to have a return flight back to West Africa.

The Bank's have liabilities in THB and FX/USD. The Central Bank will always be able to bail them out in THB, but what about the FX?

How long will the Central Bank be able to act as Lendor of the Last Resort for the FX Liabilities, when a) USD yields go up (to curb inflation) and b) FX Funding Cost for the Thai Commercial Banks go up from the downgrades?

We can't ignore that FX inflows are heavily affected from the lack of tourists (30 Mill. tourists, each spend average 1000 USD -- gives 30 bn. USD inflow every year).

Together weak car exports due to high cost of diesel (who would by Hillux trucks!), FX inflow could become a problem.

55 minutes ago, alien365 said:

You seriously wouldn't go if they paid you 25k? 25k for 2hours watching paint dry is easy money. 

90 mins + 30 mins break + 2 x 1 hour in and out = half a day (excl. transport and accommodation and tax).

Such big discounts are offered only for topics I have a great interest in, rubbish comes at a premium though.

1 hour ago, Boomer6969 said:

We are talking about KR 2, which are recorded in a central database, as our wives can get one in any Amphor, anywhere in the country, in 5 minutes, for 20 Bahts.

Cool story boomer, though the only difference between KR 2 and KR 22 is the place of marriage.