Teacher In Hot Water For Berating Kids At Gunpoint

[gdhm]

Moderators: Forgive me if we are not allowed to paste articles. If so please delete if not acceptable or permissible. I have assumed as articles are posted to TV word for word in the News section (which I am not allowed to submit to) that it is OK for me to do so here.

"Bangkok General news Thursday June 07, 2007

Teacher in hot water for berating kids at gunpoint

RARINTHORN PETCHAROEN

Nan - Around 300 residents of Ban Nam Liang in Nan's Thung Chang district yesterday demanded the removal of a school director they claimed threatened pupils at gunpoint. The incident happened on May 25, 10 days after the school reopened following the holidays.

Somporn Onsuwan, director of Ban Nam Liang school, found out that nine male students had tattoos on their ankles.

The students were called into his office to be given a warning, and he drew a pistol and pointed it at the head of each student, terrifying them.

''The principal told us to get rid of the tattoos. He then asked whether we wanted to know if the tattoos made us bullet-proof. He went to get his gun from a car and pointed it at our heads,'' said Kamol Homdokploy, 13, a Mathayom 2 (Grade 8) student.

Theerawat Taokham, 13, also a Mathayom 2 student, thought it was a toy gun until he saw the real bullets.

''At first, I thought it was a toy gun. But when the principal started loading three bullets into the magazine, we were frozen with fear,'' the boy said.

The parents found out about the incident on May 31 and were upset with Mr Somporn's behaviour. They petitioned Samai Thanasri, the acting director of the provincial education zone 2 office, to have him transferred.

Mr Samai formed a fact-finding team and the findings are expected to be available this week.

Mr Somporn argued that he was joking and said the gun was a toy he seized from another student.

He said he had been the target of foul play, adding his 19-year record of working at the school was trouble-free and he had never been in conflict with any villagers.

Most teachers at the school believed Mr Somporn might have acted in a fit of rage. He meant to teach the students how to behave, although the way he did so might have been inappropriate, they said. Parent Suthep Homdokploy said warnings and punishments are acceptable, but not when pupils' lives are threatened.

The school has 15 teachers and 187 students from kindergarten to Mathayom 3"

I would be interested in people's views on this one.

Seems astonishing that only a transfer is being discussed, toy or real gun and not a sacking (good service or not).

I am NOT suggesting the Principal is anything but a good man with an excellent past record but there are some errors of judgement that cannot be excused even in relaxed Thailand. Bearing in mind the political turmoil and increased violence in the South such an act, especially toward children, bluff or not, is an appalling example.

Whether a toy gun or not, the important thing is what the children thought at the time -not ONLY the reality. We all know how lifelike these replica guns are.

How can the parents being thinking of requesting ONLY a transfer? Are they suggesting he is not OK for THEIR children, but IS OK with others. Would readers here want such a person disciplining or in control of their children? I doubt it!.

It has been suggested that maybe the Principal was in a rage. Maybe he was (who knows) but he is paid to control himself. Most of us have been very angry with a child at some time in our lives but how many people would threaten a child with a gun (real or not).

I know that some children can be like "little monsters' but using a gun (toy or not) is NOT how the Education staff (or anybody) should behave to discipline, control or educate them.

Regards, Dave

[Neeranam]

I think there's a very big difference if it was a toy or real gun.

[Dakhar]

Wow, that got my attention.

How connected is this guy?

I mean really pointing a gun at some one's child in Thialand..... I can see it now, the 3 families taking up a collection, and calling up the B n' B wet work division. I bet this guys insurance company cancelled his policies. Pre-emptive move on their part.

Oh and I like this part.... it was a gun I took off of a student.... so you then placed the gun in your car? Wow, amazing Thailand.

[gdhm]

I think there's a very big difference if it was a toy or real gun.

In reality, I agree with you OF COURSE.

However, IF the children involved genuinely thought it was real (and one said he thought it was a toy, UNTIL the Principal started to load bullets into it) then their fear and the effect on them would have been identical to that of a real gun, I believe.

In Spain I had a drunk, on paranoia drugs (found out later from the police) waving a gun in my face for 2 hours in an nearly empty bar. I could not tell the bar owner as he told me not to. I did not not want to risk escalation. I did NOT feel he intended to shoot me BUT I was "sh***ing myself every time he waved it in my direction at point blank range saying what he wanted to do to illegal immigrants from Morocco. Luckily we eventually left at the same time and went in different directions. His "parting Shot" excuse the pun was to fire in the air. He too later said it was toy to the police. BUT I know bullets when I see them, and the difference between a real and the toy he presented to the police (so did the bar-owner)

I can tell those who have never had a gun pointed at them - It is frightening whether you believe it will be used or not. Accidents DO happen.

Regards, Dave

[larvidchr]

I think there's a very big difference if it was a toy or real gun.

In reality, I agree with you OF COURSE.

However, IF the children involved genuinely thought it was real (and one said he thought it was a toy, UNTIL the Principal started to load bullets into it) then their fear and the effect on them would have been identical to that of a real gun, I believe.

In Spain I had a drunk, on paranoia drugs (found out later from the police) waving a gun in my face for 2 hours in an nearly empty bar. I could not tell the bar owner as he told me not to. I did not not want to risk escalation. I did NOT feel he intended to shoot me BUT I was "sh***ing myself every time he waved it in my direction at point blank range saying what he wanted to do to illegal immigrants from Morocco. Luckily we eventually left at the same time and went in different directions. His "parting Shot" excuse the pun was to fire in the air. He too later said it was toy to the police. BUT I know bullets when I see them, and the difference between a real and the toy he presented to the police (so did the bar-owner)

I can tell those who have never had a gun pointed at them - It is frightening whether you believe it will be used or not. Accidents DO happen.

Regards, Dave

What a nasty experience, and you are right, everytime sombody points a loaded weapon at you, you get scared.

As regards to the teacher and depending on the childrens age, gang affiliation aso, this one should be taken with a pinch of salt, you mostly dont get the full story , the number of minors riding around here in this town with real guns and bulletproof tatos is scary, and if it took scaring the s... out of them to lead them to better ways I could live with it.

Kind regards

[kmart]

Maybe they could get him a teaching job in Virginia?

[jackspratt]

What a nasty experience, and you are right, everytime sombody points a loaded weapon at you, you get scared.

As regards to the teacher and depending on the childrens age, gang affiliation aso, this one should be taken with a pinch of salt, you mostly dont get the full story , the number of minors riding around here in this town with real guns and bulletproof tatos is scary, and if it took scaring the s... out of them to lead them to better ways I could live with it.

Kind regards

You are one strange bugger! How can a teacher pointing a gun (real or fake) at students ever be justified under the circumstances presented?

Edited June 7, 2007 by jackspratt

[larvidchr]

You are one strange bugger! How can a teacher pointing a gun (real or fake) at students ever be justified under the circumstances presented?

Yep!!

[sukanyacondo]

Never did me any harm as a kid!!!!!!!!!!