Famous Thai school plunged into new abuse scandal

[Jonathan Fairfield]

Famous Thai school plunged into new abuse scandal

 

 

The management for a chain of schools which earlier this year were at the centre of abuse allegations have again been forced to apologise for the treatment of one of its students.

 

On Friday, management of the Sarasas Witaed Samut Prakan School issued a public apology after a teacher was found to have taped a 6 year old student’s mouth shut.

 

Parents of the student, who have reported the incident to police, said their child is traumatised after the incident and does not want to return to school.

 

In a statement the school said: “A grade 1 class teacher used clear tape on a student’s mouth and punched him in the back. The school apologises for the incident and is sorry for what happened. We apologize to the parents. Sarasas school recognizes the problem of student punishments”.

 

The school said it had also ordered all teachers not to physically or mentally punish students. 

 

Sanook reported the teacher, who has been working at the school for four months, will also be reprimanded.

 

The news comes after another Saras school hit the headlines earlier this year after a video posted on social media showed a teacher - who was working despite not being sufficiently qualified - abusing a kindergarten student.

 

In total, parents of up to 39 students at Sarasas Witaed Ratchaphruek in Nonthaburi filed complaints with police of the abuse and maltreatment of their children at the school.

 

-- © Copyright Thai Visa News 2020-12-26

 

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[Golden Triangle]

These teachers that they employ, are they the dregs of society or just scum of the earth ? Do they actually have teaching qualifications ?

[Thaiwrath]

14 minutes ago, Jonathan Fairfield said:

“A grade 1 class teacher used clear tape on a student’s mouth and punched him in the back."

Absolute disgrace.

As the police have been notified, let's hope some charges are brought against him, although, unfortunately, I doubt it.

[Somtamnication]

This school is infamous for physical abuse going back years and years. Amazing what targeting cockroaches do with a strong flashlight. 

[2long]

The teacher will be 'reprimanded' = what exactly? Made to buy their own lunch for a week, or 'ticked off.'

[fondue zoo]

The usage of the word teacher does not apply to these people.

[ChipButty]

41 minutes ago, Golden Triangle said:

These teachers that they employ, are they the dregs of society or just scum of the earth ? Do they actually have teaching qualifications ?

It looks like some of them dont have

[Phuketshrew]

In the normal world the school group would have been closed down and the owners/management/perpetrators prosecuted.

[ChipButty]

5 minutes ago, Phuketshrew said:

In the normal world the school group would have been closed down and the owners/management/perpetrators prosecuted.

Nothing is normal here

[OneMoreFarang]

The school should pay millions for compensation. I guess that would motivate them to select qualified teachers for the future.

[farang1979]

2 hours ago, Golden Triangle said:

These teachers that they employ, are they the dregs of society or just scum of the earth ? Do they actually have teaching qualifications ?

They’re probably on 30,000 THB a month. Do you know any qualified teachers that would work for that? As far as I know, it will employ anyone with any degree. Obviously, given the number of abuse cases, and not just this school, behaviour management and classroom management skills are alien concepts to these teachers. 

[farang1979]

1 hour ago, OneMoreFarang said:

The school should pay millions for compensation. I guess that would motivate them to select qualified teachers for the future.

Have a read of this and make your own mind up:

https://www.khaosodenglish.com/news/crimecourtscalamity/2020/09/30/kindergarten-violence-scandal-director-says-parents-just-want-money/

 

[Golden Triangle]

37 minutes ago, farang1979 said:

They’re probably on 30,000 THB a month. Do you know any qualified teachers that would work for that? As far as I know, it will employ anyone with any degree. Obviously, given the number of abuse cases, and not just this school, behaviour management and classroom management skills are alien concepts to these teachers. 

 

I know a couple of foreign teachers, one Brit who has been working here over 20 years up in Issan, the other an Aussie guy, both have the requisite qualifications, they both earn (as far as I know) only slightly more than what you quoted above, but what I do know for a fact is that they are both highly regarded by both their students & their fellow Thai teachers, I consider that they are both grossly underpaid, but they both love their jobs.

[pixelaoffy]

Hilarious! And the regs and patronising junk Foreign teachers have to go through

[Scott]

I believe this is one of the newer Sarasas Schools and has been in operation for 5+ years.   Nothing in the story indicates that it was a foreign teacher that was involved.  

 

Most local schools will have a Thai teacher as the homeroom teacher.  If there is a foreign homeroom teacher, they almost always have a Thai assistant teacher who is instrumental in keeping the students behaving.   In the first grade, they are simply not proficient enough in English to have a Foreign homeroom teacher.  

 

[Prairieboy]

21 hours ago, Jonathan Fairfield said:

The school apologises for the incident and is sorry for what happened.

Perhaps it is the parents who should apologise to the school for failure to discipline their children in the home.  Too many children, when at home, act with impunity knowing there will be no reprimands regardless of their actions - spoiled brats!

Edited December 27, 2020 by Prairieboy
Clarify for thaiwrath who was confused!

[Bluespunk]

21 hours ago, Jonathan Fairfield said:

We apologize to the parents. Sarasas school recognizes the problem of student punishments”.

Any physical violence towards a child is not punishment, it is assault and anyone engaging in such should be prosecuted.

 

21 hours ago, Jonathan Fairfield said:

The school said it had also ordered all teachers not to physically or mentally punish students. 

Any individual assaulting students physically or mentally is not fit to teach and should be dismissed at once. 

Edited December 27, 2020 by Bluespunk

[FritsSikkink]

14 hours ago, Scott said:

I believe this is one of the newer Sarasas Schools and has been in operation for 5+ years.   Nothing in the story indicates that it was a foreign teacher that was involved.  

 

Most local schools will have a Thai teacher as the homeroom teacher.  If there is a foreign homeroom teacher, they almost always have a Thai assistant teacher who is instrumental in keeping the students behaving.   In the first grade, they are simply not proficient enough in English to have a Foreign homeroom teacher.  

 

Maybe the foreign teachers should learn a bit of Thai before they teach Thai kids.

[kingstonkid]

23 hours ago, Golden Triangle said:

These teachers that they employ, are they the dregs of society or just scum of the earth ? Do they actually have teaching qualifications ?

GT

 

It is not the teacher's fault. You have to remember that these young teachers get no support.  When they are supposed to be mentored the mentors have no skill or use the students as an excuse to sit in their office.

These teachers like many people learn from what they saw growing up.

 

Also add in that most kids over 8 have figured out that school is a joke and there is nothing a teacher can do to punish them.

 

Working with the really young is a problem because there is no way to give a kid a time out.

 

No support from their superiors and no guides as to what to do.

[spidermike007]

Thw president of these schools said this. How can the teachers be expected to have a healthy attitude, when the director is a half man, without any willingness to take any responsibility?

 

“We don’t need more meetings,” Piboon said. “I’m afraid it will end up like the red shirts today. What’re they cheering about? They’re not showing courtesy. They’re not willing to fix it.”

 

“They just want to win,” he went on. “Please give the school an opportunity to address it. We come in peace and I would like to apologize to the parents.”

 

You have failed both the parents and the students, repeatedly. 

 

Is it that hard to find a decent school here? I would transfer my kid in a nanosecond. They don't deserve the patronage. 

[hotchilli]

On 12/26/2020 at 2:52 PM, Somtamnication said:

This school is infamous for physical abuse going back years and years. Amazing what targeting cockroaches do with a strong flashlight. 

So another question is why do parents keeps sending kids to this franchise of schools?

[Almer]

On 12/26/2020 at 2:17 PM, Golden Triangle said:

These teachers that they employ, are they the dregs of society or just scum of the earth ? Do they actually have teaching qualifications ?

They do it for the work  permit and health care.

[Orton Rd]

On 12/26/2020 at 2:52 PM, Somtamnication said:

This school is infamous for physical abuse going back years and years. Amazing what targeting cockroaches do with a strong flashlight. 

Have you any evidence? How many of these schools have you visited and how many kids do you know go to one? IMO there is something of a campaign to discredit these schools based on one or two minor incidents no different to what goes on in a lot of state ones.

I know lots of kids who go to Sarasas schools and never heard one complaint. The only 8 year old Thai I ever met  fluent in English goes to the local bi lingual one. I'd send my kids there without hesitation.

Edited December 27, 2020 by Orton Rd

[Tarteso]

On 12/26/2020 at 3:14 PM, OneMoreFarang said:

to select qualified teachers for the future

And here comes the question...Who, in Thailand, decides who is qualified to select qualified teacher? ????

[Orton Rd]

4 hours ago, FritsSikkink said:

Maybe the foreign teachers should learn a bit of Thai before they teach Thai kids.

what makes you think it involves a foreigner?

[Orton Rd]

At one Sarasas Samut Prakan last year, sadly concert cancelled this year

Edited December 27, 2020 by Orton Rd

[Bangkok Barry]

On 12/26/2020 at 2:17 PM, Golden Triangle said:

Do they actually have teaching qualifications ?

 

You left out the word 'genuine'. Not that that means anything in Thailand, standards being what they are.

[Sakeopete]

On 12/26/2020 at 2:17 PM, Golden Triangle said:

These teachers that they employ, are they the dregs of society or just scum of the earth ? Do they actually have teaching qualifications ?

Thai university degrees are commonly bought there has been many scandals' just google it. I remember  years ago a university in the north was caught selling teaching degrees it was big news at the time. Even in politics there has been scandal, the democrat party accused Thai Rak Thai MP's of holding fake degrees as it is a requirement to become an MP.  It was big news but suddenly disappeared when it was rumored that the Democrat party found several of their members with fake degrees.

[Bredbury Blue]

20 hours ago, Scott said:

I believe this is one of the newer Sarasas Schools and has been in operation for 5+ years.   Nothing in the story indicates that it was a foreign teacher that was involved.  

 

Most local schools will have a Thai teacher as the homeroom teacher.  If there is a foreign homeroom teacher, they almost always have a Thai assistant teacher who is instrumental in keeping the students behaving.   In the first grade, they are simply not proficient enough in English to have a Foreign homeroom teacher.  

 

 

Some readers may not have picked up that Sarasas schools are bi-lingual schools, they are very popular amongst Thais to give their kids a good grounding in English. Lessons are held in English, and in Thai.

 

My lads who go to another Sarasas school tell me being smacked/hit by teachers isn't uncommon but it's the female Thai teachers to be wary of.

Edited December 27, 2020 by Bredbury Blue
Spelling

[FritsSikkink]

2 hours ago, Orton Rd said:

what makes you think it involves a foreigner?

It doesn't, read the post to which I was replying to.