'Our first dictatorship is school': Thai kids revolt

[webfact]

'Our first dictatorship is school': Thai kids revolt

By Juarawee Kittisilpa

 

Girls wearing masks to prevent the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) sit down in the schoolyard before the start of their lesson day in Bangkok, Thailand September 15, 2020. Picture taken September 15, 2020. REUTERS/Jorge Silva

 

BANGKOK (Reuters) - Wearing white ribbons, publicly hacking off their hair and making "Hunger Games" salutes - Thailand's high school students are doing their best to shake up the country's rigid education system.

 

As university students stage weeks of high-profile campus protests for democracy, their younger brethren are advancing their own rebellion to Thailand's establishment.

 

"There's a viral saying that 'our first dictatorship is school'," 17-year old Peka Loetparisanyu told Reuters at her apartment.

 

"They are trying instill in us that we are only the little people in an authoritarian society," Loetparisanyu said. "This means that a lot of our rights have been violated."

 

The movement sweeping through Thai high schools has been dubbed "Bad Student" by its leaders. Its namesake is a book written by university student activist Netiwit Chotiphatphaisal about his experiences in high school titled "A Bad Student in an Excellent Education System."

 

As well as supporting the broader aims of the anti-government protests, the high school movement is targeted at gaining self-expression for students via the abolition of rules they deem as archaic.

 

Traditionalism runs through Thailand's education system. The royal anthem is played at morning assemblies, uniform and deportment rules are strict and students are expected to be unquestioning of authority.

 

Critics say the school system is aimed at compliance more than education. Global scores compiled by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) for 2018 show Thailand far behind top performer Singapore and also lagging neighbouring Malaysia in reading, maths and science.

 

Still, conservatives were furious last month when some students wore white ribbons and raised three-finger "Hunger Games" salutes during the morning anthem recital to support the pro-democracy movement. The salute has been a symbol of calls for democracy since Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha first took power in a 2014 coup. The white ribbons represent the purity of the students.

 

Education Minister Nataphol Teepsuwan earlier this year bowed to demands by students to relax the rules that prescribe specific hair length and styles for male and female students.

 

But Nataphol said more discussion was needed on calls to abolish uniforms and other major changes.

 

"I don't think the students are my opponents," he told Reuters. "I feel that by listening to them, I'm giving them an opportunity to voice their concern safely."

 

Fifteen-year-old Benjamaporn Nivas became one of the first faces of the 'Bad Student' movement when she sat in public places with a sign around her neck inviting passersby to cut her hair as symbolic 'punishment' for infringing the haircut rule.

 

She's now set her sights on further reform.

 

"They should revoke all the outdated rules, not just that one," she told Reuters. "Those rules shouldn't exist in the first place. They violate our human rights."

 

(Reporting by Juarawee Kittisilpa; Editing by Jane Wardell)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-09-25

 

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[RotBenz8888]

5 minutes ago, webfact said:

She's now set her sights on further reform.

When they've sorted the haircut issue, perhaps they could address the actual teaching quality? 

[Orton Rd]

There is a pattern throughout history of oppressed people rising up against their oppressors, many Thai kids are more aware than the teachers these days thanks largely to the internet.

[seajae]

they realy need to start being original, everything they do is coppied from US movies, the 3 finger salute meant something in the movie, here its just another childish response because they lack the ability to think for themselves. Protesting is their right but copying movies  to do it is not the answer, time for them to use their own ideas and maybe people will take more notice especially when they have genuine protests

[ThailandRyan]

Was there any doubt that the future of Thailand has slowly been changing and that the future young leaders have become fed up with being stomped and treaded upon by those who believe that society should be like it was decades ago.  I remember the phrase "Children should be seen and not heard" decades ago.  However, there voices are becoming stronger as they see there future being destroyed by those in power who could care less.  Looks like Thailand is about to see its own style of an "Arab Spring".

[SoilSpoil]

1 minute ago, seajae said:

they realy need to start being original, everything they do is coppied from US movies, the 3 finger salute meant something in the movie, here its just another childish response because they lack the ability to think for themselves. Protesting is their right but copying movies  to do it is not the answer, time for them to use their own ideas and be original

Instead of showing respect for their cause, you choose to ridicule and criticize them. Telling them what to do and what not to do, is exactly what they are up against. 

[ThailandRyan]

5 minutes ago, seajae said:

they realy need to start being original, everything they do is coppied from US movies, the 3 finger salute meant something in the movie, here its just another childish response because they lack the ability to think for themselves. Protesting is their right but copying movies  to do it is not the answer, time for them to use their own ideas and maybe people will take more notice especially when they have genuine protests

Think outside of the box please, they are not just emulating actions they are using them as there calling sign and it has a definite effect on what is happening.  Do you remember the Arab Spring of 2011, well if you do not, then please do a little history review, as that is where this is heading.

[Thaiwrath]

18 minutes ago, webfact said:

"They are trying instill in us that we are only the little people in an authoritarian society," Loetparisanyu said. "This means that a lot of our rights have been violated."

 

 

It's no consolation whatsoever, but it's not just you school kids, it's 90% + of the population in the same boat.

[Orton Rd]

10 minutes ago, seajae said:

they realy need to start being original, everything they do is coppied from US movies, the 3 finger salute meant something in the movie, here its just another childish response because they lack the ability to think for themselves. Protesting is their right but copying movies  to do it is not the answer, time for them to use their own ideas and maybe people will take more notice especially when they have genuine protests

Using the hunger games and harry Potter as part of protesting is original and quite effective- it's legal and infuriates their feudal overlords.

[Antonymous]

3 minutes ago, Thaiwrath said:

It's no consolation whatsoever, but it's not just you school kids, it's 90% + of the population in the same boat.

 

Yes, but these children are the future of Thailand. This is where change starts.

 

There is hope.

 

Very happy to see this.

[zzzzz]

11 minutes ago, seajae said:

they realy need to start being original, everything they do is coppied from US movies, the 3 finger salute meant something in the movie, here its just another childish response because they lack the ability to think for themselves. Protesting is their right but copying movies  to do it is not the answer, time for them to use their own ideas and maybe people will take more notice especially when they have genuine protests

<deleted> do u have against kids trying to better their lives and the goverment??
prehaps read

 

How to

 

[TheFreqFlyer]

Most of the students are wearing masks.

Why?

 

Isn't covid under control here?

 

In Chinese schools (some of them at least) masks have come off since June! In China!

 

Is Thailand becoming less free than even China? Wow. 

[holy cow cm]

It starts in kindergarten for conditioning or let's say brain washing going all the way up through grade 12 or M6, and the students know what's going on. Having to sing the Thai national anthem every morning is a bit much as well and is sort of having an opposite effect now.

[HashBrownHarry]

36 minutes ago, RotBenz8888 said:

When they've sorted the haircut issue, perhaps they could address the actual teaching quality? 

I hope they don't change the girls uniforms!!!

 

Hubba hubba

[owl sees all]

I've seen the words of the Thai anthem; in English. They are not disgusting like the English one.

 

Children are the future in all countries.

[ChipButty]

50 minutes ago, ThailandRyan said:

I remember the phrase "Children should be seen and not heard" decades ago.  

I remember that being quoted many time I think I was at the start of the rebellion having been born in the army where my old man was a RSM where I thought violence was a way of life, as I grew older I started to rebel against the way that other people wanted you to live and it seemed whatever you did was wrong, I think I was one of the first people to bring in changes at senior school where the teachers thought they could beat the <deleted> out of you, School was like a <deleted> boot camp from assembly in the morning when finished march out in single file walk around the corridors in single file on the left and one teacher pulling kids over coz their shoes weren't clean and getting 100 lines.

The list goes on 

[Tarteso]

I ❤️ Pink Floyd

[khunkarl]

The children are the future, period. Listen to them and take them seriously. To earn their respect they need to be shown respect. Children are the ones that see things for what things truly are, before their minds become deranged with hate, envy, greed and fear as adults.

[JusticeGB]

It takes bravery for school children to show any signs of rebellion in schools. Teachers come from the 18th Century and think that they are God like and can hit students at will. The rebellious students will have their scores in tests marked down and be treated as trouble makers not as heroes. 

[Orton Rd]

Sounds like the old, I got thrashed and abused at my public School by sadists and it never did me any harm ????

[Mavideol]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

"They should revoke all the outdated rules, not just that one," she told Reuters. "Those rules shouldn't exist in the first place. They violate our human rights."

well said, unfortunately wishful thinking, there is a "big" need for a major change in Thailand outdated rules and peoples rights, again, unfortunately, nobody at the government level is willing to start the changes, we, as guests in this country, have no say so

[Orton Rd]

12 minutes ago, Mavideol said:

well said, unfortunately wishful thinking, there is a "big" need for a major change in Thailand outdated rules and peoples rights, again, unfortunately, nobody at the government level is willing to start the changes, we, as guests in this country, have no say so

If you have kids in one of these indoctrination camps then you certainly have a say, we are officially aliens, not even guests here.

[RichardColeman]

2 hours ago, seajae said:

here its just another childish response because they lack the ability to think for themselves

You may want to think that they are taught not to think or question for themselves from start of school ! And that is what they are trying to change !

[connda]

All in all it's just another brink in the wall.

[connda]

8 minutes ago, RichardColeman said:

You may want to think that they are taught not to think or question for themselves from start of school ! And that is what they are trying to change !

I look around nowadays and just shake my head - but - the current generation of school age kids are actually giving me a bit of hope.  I think we are seeing the emergence of what Strauss-Howe generational theory would consider as hero archtypes.

[86Tiger]

2 hours ago, seajae said:

they realy need to start being original, everything they do is coppied from US movies, the 3 finger salute meant something in the movie, here its just another childish response because they lack the ability to think for themselves. Protesting is their right but copying movies  to do it is not the answer, time for them to use their own ideas and maybe people will take more notice especially when they have genuine protests

Original??

 

They are kids for goodness sake.  And in a school system, even society, that encourages complacency. Anything out of the normal routine should be considered original and daring under these circumstances.

 

 

Personally, I don't care if my kids march about  a bit or pay reverence to their country.  But what is unacceptable is not having opportunity to learn proper math, science, history, etc.  Little discipline is ok.  Not being able to pass university entrance exam is not OK.

[dbrenn]

1 hour ago, JusticeGB said:

It takes bravery for school children to show any signs of rebellion in schools. Teachers come from the 18th Century and think that they are God like and can hit students at will. The rebellious students will have their scores in tests marked down and be treated as trouble makers not as heroes. 

Yes, right. Make Thailand just like the western world. After all, the western world is so disciplined and perfect.

 

I hope Thailand stays as it is - conservative. The western world's progressive policies over the years have torn their societies apart.

[FarFlungFalang]

3 hours ago, seajae said:

they realy need to start being original, everything they do is coppied from US movies, the 3 finger salute meant something in the movie, here its just another childish response because they lack the ability to think for themselves. Protesting is their right but copying movies  to do it is not the answer, time for them to use their own ideas and maybe people will take more notice especially when they have genuine protests

Telling people not to copy others has been done before and is not original.Just because some thing is copied doesn't make it ineffective like putting one foot in front of another to get around not very original but none the less effective.It takes courage for these kids to stand against the system here in Thailand because the consequences can be deadly as has happened before who cares what salute they choose to use,perhaps a 4 fingered salute would satisfy you desire for originality?What they are doing is trying to have permission to be original,right now they don't have that.

[FarFlungFalang]

1 hour ago, Orton Rd said:

Sounds like the old, I got thrashed and abused at my public School by sadists and it never did me any harm ????

I was told by my old man in no uncertain terms that if any teacher hit me we would take them to court and that school uniforms weren't compulsory and that never did me any harm although it was a bit difficult for a some of those teachers to come to terms with but they did come to terms with it.

[johng]

6 minutes ago, holy cow cm said:

If you go to the cinema now, you will see no kids or young adults stand. Totally hilarious

Never witnessed that myself ,  went to see Tenet and Mulan  everyone stood up.