Old guidelines on teachers’ ethics to get a revamp

By The Nation

 

 

New regulations to clarify limits and responsibilities of staff in schools

 

AUTHORITIES are set to update the Teachers’ Ethics guidelines, which was first introduced in 1959.

 

“We need to bring these guidelines into line with today’s world,” Independent Committee for Education Reform chairman Charas Suwanwela said this week, adding that it would also be necessary to place an emphasis on safety issues. 

 

“We need to make it very clear what is allowed and what is prohibited at schools,” he said. 

 

Charas was speaking after attending a meeting with the Office of Education Council. 

 

“As teachers have influence and power over students, there is a risk that they may abuse their authority. So, we need to introduce measures that protect students’ safety,” he said. 

 

For instance, he said, teachers and students, especially those of the opposite sex, should not be allowed to spend time behind closed doors. 

 

Also, he said, teachers should not be given the authority to hit students. 

 

Watanaporn Ra-ngubtook, the office’s deputy secretary-general, said safety issues will be also integrated into the new guideline. 

 

Charas, meanwhile, said he has recommended education in the arts, in the hope that the educational system will not be too preoccupied with technology. 

 

“Students need to learn about art and humanities subjects,” he said. 

 

Assoc Professor Tisana Khammani, who chairs the panel working to update students’ competency, said her team had noticed that many students were still unable to apply their knowledge to real life. 

 

She said 10 new competencies have been identified as new guidelines for Prathom 1 to 3 students. 

 

“We have tested them at 24 schools already and have got a positive response,” Tisana said. 

 

These 10 competencies are Thai language for communication; mathematics in everyday life; scientific inquiry and scientific mind; English for communication; life skills and personal growth; career skills and entrepreneurship; higher-order thinking skills and innovation; media, information and digital literacy; collaboration, teamwork and leadership; and active citizen and global mindedness. 

 

“We need to shift from rote-learning and focus on being practical,” Tisana said, adding that this will help initiate big changes in Thailand’s educational sector. 

 

“We will also have a national curriculum and learning institute soon,” she said. 

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30359903

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-12-06

"Also, he said, teachers should not be given the authority to hit students."

 

They aren't but for some reason the rule of law is often ignored.

 

6 minutes ago, edwinchester said:

"Also, he said, teachers should not be given the authority to hit students."

 

They aren't but for some reason the rule of law is often ignored.

 

I’m ok if the teacher uses a ruler on my son’s hands or legs if he’s naughty in school. Kids need to learn that there are consequences for their actions at an early age imo.

 

Too many sissy parents these days who refuse to discipline their children unfortunately. 

Also, teachers' egos need to be kept in check. More young teachers, less older teachers who still think this is the 1950s. Innovation and creative thinking cannot develop under dictatorship of a egocentric teacher. 

When i looked at the list at the bottom i laughed,my Mrs would lump all of that in the 'don't think too much' basket,except maths and English both of which she is fairly good at.

1 hour ago, lust said:

I’m ok if the teacher uses a ruler on my son’s hands or legs if he’s naughty in school. Kids need to learn that there are consequences for their actions at an early age imo.

 

Too many sissy parents these days who refuse to discipline their children unfortunately. 

The rule of law is broke on a large scale in most walks of life in Thailand, laws are only for those who cannot afford to break them, no enforcement by any authority.

 

1 hour ago, edwinchester said:

"Also, he said, teachers should not be given the authority to hit students."

 

They aren't but for some reason the rule of law is often ignored.

 

"Also, he said, teachers should not be given the authority to hit students."

 

Seems like the speaker doesn't even know the law;

 

- bottom line teachers cannot be given the authority to hit students by anybody, for a very specific reason - it's again the law, specific laws which have existed already for many years. 

 

1 hour ago, lust said:

I’m ok if the teacher uses a ruler on my son’s hands or legs if he’s naughty in school. Kids need to learn that there are consequences for their actions at an early age imo.

 

Too many sissy parents these days who refuse to discipline their children unfortunately. 

Plenty of other ways other than hitting them to punish a child so that they learn of consequences.

Just now, edwinchester said:

Plenty of other ways other than hitting them to punish a child so that they learn of consequences.

 

Plus way too many regular incidents of teachers causing bruising and more to little kids.

 

Remember the incident where the older brother got caned 39 times because the transgressor, his little brother was too young to get caned. 

Sorry - in my book any adult hitting a child is an absolute no no. I have too many unhappy memories of being caned when I was at school and on reflection the line between child abuse and justified punishment was often crossed.

8 hours ago, webfact said:

Also, he said, teachers should not be given the authority to hit students. 

That definitely needs to be addressed. 

3 hours ago, lust said:

I’m ok if the teacher uses a ruler on my son’s hands or legs if he’s naughty in school. Kids need to learn that there are consequences for their actions at an early age imo.

 

Too many sissy parents these days who refuse to discipline their children unfortunately. 

Well, at least you didn't claim that corporal punishment never did YOU any harm!

Lots of waffle and good intentions, but lacking detail on what exactly needs to be done and how. Hopefully, this education watchdog will eventually show its teeth and come up with a strategy and national curriculum to lift Thailand off its lowly position in the global academic league table.

 

 

2 hours ago, Krataiboy said:

Lots of waffle and good intentions, but lacking detail on what exactly needs to be done and how. Hopefully, this education watchdog will eventually show its teeth and come up with a strategy and national curriculum to lift Thailand off its lowly position in the global academic league table.

 

 

 

True, but at least:

“We need to shift from rote-learning and focus on being practical,” Tisana said, adding that this will help initiate big changes in Thailand’s educational sector."

 

In my recollection first time ever the term 'rote-learning' has been mentioned and even bigger surprise an actual comment that we need to move away from rote learning.

 

Lets' wait and see.

 

Would making a student do push-ups in EP science class for some infraction be considered corporal punishment?

 

Screwing around, incorrect answer repeatedly, not doing homework, speaking Thai?

 

Purely hypothetical.

2 hours ago, scorecard said:

 

True, but at least:

“We need to shift from rote-learning and focus on being practical,” Tisana said, adding that this will help initiate big changes in Thailand’s educational sector."

 

In my recollection first time ever the term 'rote-learning' has been mentioned and even bigger surprise an actual comment that we need to move away from rote learning.

 

Lets' wait and see.

 

It's the only way Thai teachers can teach and assess. So until that changes nothing changes.

 

There is no formative method to gauge individual learning from what I can see.

Promote asking questions-no mention of corruption?-let them know there is a world outside of Thailand-business, science and research journals are English based-less than one percent of the world speaks Thai, and the language of ASEAN is English, this is important to higher learning, research and integration 

7 hours ago, edwinchester said:

Plenty of other ways other than hitting them to punish a child so that they learn of consequences.

Like what? I’d love to hear of plenty of other ways.

2 hours ago, lust said:

Like what? I’d love to hear of plenty of other ways.

Time out/time alone.

Detention.

Extra homework.

Take away privileges.

 

6 hours ago, edwinchester said:

Time out/time alone.

Detention.

Extra homework.

Take away privileges.

 

Oh dear... Have you ever taught before in a Thai school?

20 hours ago, lust said:

Too many sissy parents these days who refuse to discipline their children unfortunately. 

Punish your child. Then when they get older and pick up a brick to throw through a window, they'll think "Ow! My ass hurts! Maybe I SHOULDN'T throw this brick."

4 hours ago, lust said:

Oh dear... Have you ever taught before in a Thai school?

No but family members are school teachers who hit kids in their charge and they complain all the time that they still misbehave.

2 hours ago, edwinchester said:

No but family members are school teachers who hit kids in their charge and they complain all the time that they still misbehave.

i'm thinking this is the time to quit while you are still sane......there are some adults who do have this belief that belting a child is good for them....there is no way to change their minds about this (short of hitting them)......just joking....but you are completely right about alternatives to alter misbehaviour......the hardest part is that the role model (i.e. the parents are undermining strategies.

16 hours ago, ozmeldo said:

It's the only way Thai teachers can teach and assess. So until that changes nothing changes.

 

There is no formative method to gauge individual learning from what I can see.

 

"There is no formative method to gauge individual learning from what I can see.".

 

Good point.

 

MAny countries have struggled with this item for years and some have develop credible assessment appraoches.

 

Singapore is in the process of adjusting the assessment to include / feature;

 

'How well are students prepared for life'.

 

I like this concept and hope to see more details. 

7 minutes ago, scorecard said:

 

"There is no formative method to gauge individual learning from what I can see.".

 

Good point.

 

MAny countries have struggled with this item for years and some have develop credible assessment appraoches.

 

Singapore is in the process of adjusting the assessment to include / feature;

 

'How well are students prepared for life'.

 

I like this concept and hope to see more details. 

many schools these days are encouraging critical thinking as well as students opinions being part of the learning.....some very advanced teachers encourage students planning the assessment at the start of the unit......plus the guideline criteria on the assessment......this can be started in earlier grades than you would think.....