Grounds for concern over school initiation ceremony

By PRATCH RUJIVANAROM 
THE NATION

 

 

NETIZENS HAVE raised concerns over the health, safety and wellbeing of new students at Suankularb Wittayalai Chon Buri School, after they were told to kiss the ground during a welcoming ceremony.
 

The netizens worry that the students could have been infected by potentially lethal bacteria.

 

The Anti Sotus Facebook Fanpage has exposed what it called an “improper freshmen welcoming activity” at Suankularb Wittayalai Chon Buri School. The page posted photos of new students with their mouths pressed directly to dirt on the ground in the school’s football field, after being ordered to do so by senior students.

 

 

The photos sparked a social media discussion about the appropriateness of the activity and the potential health consequences for the new students from kissing the ground.

 

Direct exposure to dirt could cause melioidosis disease from the infection of burkholderia pseudomallei bacteria in the soil, said Dr Siriluck Anunnatsiri, a medical researcher at Khon Kaen University’s Melioidosis Research Centre. 

 

She said the symptoms and seriousness of the disease varied for each patient based on the body’s ability to fight infections. The disease can be deadly and has a 60 per cent death rate if the infection makes it into the bloodstream.

 

After the “kissing the ground” activity went viral, many current and former students of Suankularb Wittayalai Chon Buri School leapt to the defence of their school. They said the ceremony was arranged under teacher supervision and that new students were not forced into activities or intimidated by the senior students.

 

Following the adverse publicity, school principle Wanchai Tansamai said he had summoned the teachers and senior students responsible to discuss how the ceremony could be improved.

 

“The school does not ignore public concerns over the inappropriateness of the ground-kissing activity, and we will make sure that such activities will not happen again,” Wanchai said.

 

“The school also acknowledges that the senior students had good intentions in arranging the welcoming ceremony for the new students in order to let the newcomers love their new school, adjust to the new environment and make friends more easily. They did not intend to cause any harm to the new students at all.”

 

He also said he had concluded from the accounts of senior students and teachers that the ground-kissing activity was at the end of the ceremony and not included in the original schedule. 

 

The senior students at the event impulsively asked the new students to pledge their love to the school by kissing the ground, he said.

 

Siriluck said Thailand was the world’s hotspot for this kind of sickness, as every year around 2,000 – 3,000 Thai people fall sick with it, higher than any other country.

 

“This disease can be commonly found among farmers or people, who work outdoor, in every region of Thailand, while the northeastern region, especially in Khon Kaen, had the highest prevalence of Melioidosis cases,” she said. “Melioidosis can be fatal but it is very easy to prevent by avoiding the skin’s direct contact with soil, wearing boots and gloves when working with soil, and always washing hands and body afterwards.”

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30347961

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-06-18

 

Sickening , sack  the  headmaster.

"The senior students at the event impulsively asked the new students to pledge their love to the school by kissing the ground"

 

They do their best to keep Thailand as a Third World Country  . . . . . .  ?

I wouldn't worry about the exposure to the dirt as much as the exposure to the toxic culture of denigrating anyone perceived to be lower than you.

Typical over the top spiteful behaviour ,  encouraged by some parents and condoned by others, especially by teachers and the heads of these schools.

Is anyone surprised by this behaviour.

i'm not.

Maybe they should have compulsory reading of books like Lord of the flies.

instead of this nonsense.

Thai education system, What a load !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  

 

 

 

 

 

3 hours ago, webfact said:

The netizens worry that the students could have been infected by potentially lethal bacteria.

I propose all students will be put in hazmat suits for 4 years during their studies.

That way we can keep them away from lethal bacteria of which we know are possibly everywhere, on everything, all the time.

Classic bit of Thai communication/culture here.

It simply wouldn’t do to directly criticize the authorities concerned or the ceremonial aspect, so they come up with this ground dwelling ‘mega-death’ bacteria angle instead. 

It is called hazing and should be banned. But, this is Thailand and these rituals reflect true Thainess

What about having to remove your shoes when you go into a pharmacy?  Surely it's unhygienic to expose the soles of your feet to the sweat/dirt/bacteria of countless previous customers? 

12 minutes ago, mikebell said:

What about having to remove your shoes when you go into a pharmacy?  Surely it's unhygienic to expose the soles of your feet to the sweat/dirt/bacteria of countless previous customers? 

Easy solution don't do it.

just walk in. 

 

Ps  Do you remove your shoes before you go into a hospital ?

Hazing is a Neanderthal ritual and should be banned. It's just an excuse to exercise sadistic power over others. 

Looking at the state of these children this ritual seems to have already involved rolling around in the dirt, and having muck paste applied to their faces -none too gently one can surmise.

Absolute shame on the School Principal who permitted this, and every teacher who condoned it. Initiation, learning to love the school, my backside. It is nothing more than institutional bullying and encouraging thuggery. You can bet that those teachers who smile at this are those who insist that the children kneel before them to hand in their work...

head down and ass up, that's love for school

7 minutes ago, klauskunkel said:

head down and ass up, that's love for school

Reminds me in a way of this sort of behaviour. 

very fitting.

 

6 hours ago, webfact said:

the inappropriateness of the ground-kissing activity, and we will make sure that such activities will not happen again,” 

Next year they will kiss his a*se!!

4 hours ago, CelticBhoy said:

"The senior students at the event impulsively asked the new students to pledge their love to the school by kissing the ground"

 

They do their best to keep Thailand as a Third World Country  . . . . . .  ?

Of course hazing is a bad thing, but if you are not living under a rock, you should know that this happens also a lot in western countries. This is not something done only in Thailand, so please stop the Thai bashing. 

When I was a kid I used to eat dirt

6 hours ago, webfact said:

the ground-kissing activity was at the end of the ceremony

Regardless of when it took place, all "hazing" activities are pointless, serve no function, and should be banned.  When I started university in Canada, in 1979, at the age of 29, hazing had been banned from most universities in North America in part, due to it not being of any use to anybody and the many dangers involved, especially for the disabled and those susceptible to illness due to suffering from lowered immunity to diseases, as I am.

6 hours ago, webfact said:

Grounds for concern over school initiation ceremony

That is a terrible pun...I must remember it and use at the first possible opportunity. 

11 minutes ago, Cheops said:

Of course hazing is a bad thing, but if you are not living under a rock, you should know that this happens also a lot in western countries. This is not something done only in Thailand, so please stop the Thai bashing. 

....ah...16 posts until "It happens everywhere...bashing Thailand is not nice!"

6 hours ago, webfact said:

Direct exposure to dirt could cause melioidosis disease from the infection of burkholderia pseudomallei bacteria in the soil, said Dr Siriluck Anunnatsiri, a medical researcher at Khon Kaen University’s Melioidosis Research Centre. 

They make a big fuzz of possible exposure to dirt at a football field, while trash is piling up on almost every beach and soi. The only clean places here are the luxury shopping malls.

4 hours ago, CelticBhoy said:

"The senior students at the event impulsively asked the new students to pledge their love to the school by kissing the ground"

 

They do their best to keep Thailand as a Third World Country  . . . . . .  ?

I heard that in Scotland new students are forced to eat a deep fried mars bar!

3 hours ago, mikebell said:

What about having to remove your shoes when you go into a pharmacy?  Surely it's unhygienic to expose the soles of your feet to the sweat/dirt/bacteria of countless previous customers? 

Who says you have to remove your shoes to go into any shop, Pharmacists or any other ? I assume you are going by the amount of pairs of shoes lying outside the door. I do try to respect the Thai customs, but not this one, and I will not sit on the pavement outside to remove or put on my trainers.

That's nothing to what they will be expected to kiss when they start work.

Just glad these Netizens aren't concerned and worried about indoctrination, following orders and poor education.

 

I for one would've skipped, but then again I'm part of the minority that uses their brain to think and not simply balance weight on my neck....usually at least.

5 hours ago, canuckamuck said:

I wouldn't worry about the exposure to the dirt as much as the exposure to the toxic culture of denigrating anyone perceived to be lower than you.

Precisely.

 

What a truly backwards thing to be doing. 

1 hour ago, Cheops said:

Of course hazing is a bad thing, but if you are not living under a rock, you should know that this happens also a lot in western countries. This is not something done only in Thailand, so please stop the Thai bashing. 

These silly initiations may happen to frat boys in the mighty US of A, but show me any western institute where this type of crap is going on openly within its grounds for all to see? 

1 hour ago, Davmaac said:

I heard that in Scotland new students are forced to eat a deep fried mars bar!

I think that is called cultural alignment...

 

I remember once being in a fish and chip shop in Oban and watching in fascinated horror and awe as one was prepared - for a 24 stone creature with no teeth!

2 hours ago, Cheops said:

Of course hazing is a bad thing, but if you are not living under a rock, you should know that this happens also a lot in western countries. This is not something done only in Thailand, so please stop the Thai bashing. 

I would be equally critical of this sort of thing wherever in the world it occurred, as I suspect would the vast majority on here.

Condemning it is not Thai bashing.

 

In fact I would suggest that condoning on the grounds that it also happens in western countries is far more harmful to Thailand, and certainly displays very low expectations of their society.

 

Sent from under my rock using...

2 hours ago, Cheops said:

Of course hazing is a bad thing, but if you are not living under a rock, you should know that this happens also a lot in western countries. This is not something done only in Thailand, so please stop the Thai bashing. 

Please tell us all which schools, colleges and universities in the west are involved in something like this?

 

This is NOT Thai bashing, this is about hazing in Thailand,

 

Are you aware that several students have died in the past few years due to hazing?