Outrage over Thai public school that forces kindergarten students to wear military uniforms

[webfact]

 

By Erich Parpart

 

A Thai public school faces online criticism for making kindergarten students wear four different uniforms in one week, including what appeared to be a military uniform.

 

Parkphoom Dejhatsadin, a medical technologist who also runs a popular Facebook page posted the announcement of a Bangkok public school to parents informing them of the required uniforms ahead of the new school term on May 17. The post received more than 16,000 shares in less than five hours.

 

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The four uniforms for kindergarten students at the school include a normal uniform for Monday and Tuesday, a physical education uniform for Wednesday, a soldier uniform for Thursday and an ASEAN uniform for Friday.

 

Full story: https://www.thaienquirer.com/40018/outrage-over-thai-public-school-that-forces-kindergarten-students-to-wear-military-uniforms/

 

-- © Copyright Thai Enquirer 2022-05-11

 

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[BayArea]

Thailand the hub of uniforms.

and speaking of military uniforms, I have never seen a country where public/ civil officials dressed in military attire as much as this bunch. 

they seemed to be obsessed with it. 

 

Red Cross Youth

 

Ministry of Finance 

 

 

Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives

 

 

 

Ministry of Transportation

 

 

Mahidol University Faculty of Dentistry

 

[cdemundo]

So many uniforms for different days seems excessive and expensive.

 

Camo seems to have lost its military association as every girl in the world seems to have multiple camo outfits in colors that don't allow a person to conceal themselves. Pink, blue, red camo for example. Men and women seem to have camo patterned clothes that  don't have any military significance.

 

The military uniforms that a lot of civil servants wear in Thailand seem strange to me as well.

 

I have a friend whose mother made her clothes when she was a kid, which revealed her family's modest financial means.

She told me "I would have given anything to wear a uniform to school and be like everyone else".

 

Sometimes there are multiple considerations to a question like this.

But clearly this is not popular with the parents.

 

Edited May 10, 2022 by cdemundo

[timendres]

1 hour ago, BayArea said:

Thailand the hub of uniforms.

and speaking of military uniforms, I have never seen a country where public/ civil officials dressed in military attire as much as this bunch. 

they seemed to be obsessed with it. 

Compensating...

[zzaa09]

What might one expect when existing by way of a subliminally militarism institutional culture. 

Only a few are paying attention.......

[ikke1959]

Uniforms, points deduction for not standing correctly at the National Anthem, deduction for not singing well enough, army uniform a day in the week now,. Same haircuts and so on...all brainwashing starting with the kids instead of free thinking and expression of feelings. I am wondering how long the people of Thailand will take these rules...But if the people will come in action there will be a new general in charge.. the country has stay in control

[zzaa09]

2 minutes ago, ikke1959 said:

Uniforms, points deduction for not standing correctly at the National Anthem, deduction for not singing well enough, army uniform a day in the week now,. Same haircuts and so on...all brainwashing starting with the kids instead of free thinking and expression of feelings. I am wondering how long the people of Thailand will take these rules...But if the people will come in action there will be a new general in charge.. the country has stay in control

Patronage traditions die hard here. 

[mikebell]

School uniforms are a rip-off even in Europe where there are anti-monopoly laws.  Here in Thailand, run by oligarchs for their own benefit, the brainwashing starts at an early age.

[JimHuaHin]

What better way to control governemnt officials, force them to wear uniforms.

[Lucky Bones]

2 hours ago, BayArea said:

Thailand the hub of uniforms.

and speaking of military uniforms, I have never seen a country where public/ civil officials dressed in military attire as much as this bunch. 

they seemed to be obsessed with it. 

 

Red Cross Youth

 

Ministry of Finance 

 

 

Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives

 

 

 

Ministry of Transportation

 

 

Mahidol University Faculty of Dentistry

 

I guess it keeps the 20 Baht stores ticking over selling medals and ribbons.

[Lucky Bones]

7 minutes ago, JimHuaHin said:

What better way to control governemnt officials, force them to wear uniforms.

Correct.

The govt "official" then exercises their control by photocopying ID cards and/or mindlessly scrolling through passports, bankbooks etc.

Free thinking is not permitted (unless brown envelope offered).

[KhunLA]

They are beyond uniform happy here.   But who doesn't want to look like a multi millionaire public servant.

[RandiRona]

What is wrong with you folks...it happen in North korea!! Its called conditioning and its allowed in constitution.

[mtls2005]

21 minutes ago, RandiRona said:

it happen in North korea!!

Yes, thais are quick to point out that the DPRK and thai educations systems have much in common.

 

https://prachatai.com/english/node/4495

 

 

Thank goodness thai school administrators don't load the toddlers up with medals.

 

 

I think civil service uniforms are fine for adults. Maybe needed to convey the hierarchy/rank?

[PETERTHEEATER]

This violates a law published a few years ago which makes it an offense for military pattern camouflage garments to be worn by non-military personnel and for those selling them. Oh wait! This is Thailand, the hub of non-enforcers. I bet the kids will not be permitted to vape, play darts or bridge or wear protective helmets.

[StevieAus]

My daughter attends a non government school in the North and she has four outfits including a sports day and a traditional which I think is quite attractive.

I also see the older children wearing other types including girl guides etc.

For government schools I understand the uniforms are provided so at least they are all the same and the more affluent kids don’t turn up in designer label clothes.

For adults what’s the difference with Western Countries, Banks, Airlines large stores, couriers and many government employees, police emergency workers hospital staff etc.

Females have told me in the past they prefer a uniform so they don’t have to buy their own clothes and make a decision what to wear.

[mtls2005]

8 minutes ago, StevieAus said:

Females have told me in the past they prefer a uniform so they don’t have to buy their own clothes and make a decision what to wear.

Really? You discuss women's fashion choices, and their "reasoning", with a lot of government employees? That seems skeevy to me, unless you looking for advice. Does this topic just pop up? Do you broach this subject?

 

Or are you talking about CosPlay? 

 

 

Judging solely on recent observations at Immigration/Chaeng Watthana, nearly of the females would disagree with you.

 

(Maybe it was casual Tuesday, and Thursday when I recently visited?)

 

 

 

 

Edited May 11, 2022 by mtls2005

[dinsdale]

10 to 1 the director's brother owns the factory that makes them.

[Lucky Bones]

47 minutes ago, mtls2005 said:

Yes, thais are quick to point out that the DPRK and thai educations systems have much in common.

 

https://prachatai.com/english/node/4495

 

 

Thank goodness thai school administrators don't load the toddlers up with medals.

 

 

I think civil service uniforms are fine for adults. Maybe needed to convey the hierarchy/rank?

Thinking these guys have their own 20 baht shops.

[hotchilli]

4 hours ago, cdemundo said:

So many uniforms for different days seems excessive and expensive.

It's like a "caste status" a uniform shows your position and power.

[cdemundo]

Just now, hotchilli said:

It's like a "caste status" a uniform shows your position and power.

Are you referring to the government employees wearing military style uniforms?

I can understand what you are saying.

It's just that I haven't seen it in other nations.

Do other nations have civilian employees in government wear military uniforms?

 

[Lucky Bones]

1 hour ago, StevieAus said:

My daughter attends a non government school in the North and she has four outfits including a sports day and a traditional which I think is quite attractive.

I also see the older children wearing other types including girl guides etc.

For government schools I understand the uniforms are provided so at least they are all the same and the more affluent kids don’t turn up in designer label clothes.

For adults what’s the difference with Western Countries, Banks, Airlines large stores, couriers and many government employees, police emergency workers hospital staff etc.

Females have told me in the past they prefer a uniform so they don’t have to buy their own clothes and make a decision what to wear.

Errrrr....I think there is a difference in "uniform" here.

The clue is in the military look-a-like uniforms complete with medals, ribbons, badges and whistles.

All designed to demand, not earn respect.

 

[Misterwhisper]

2 hours ago, Lucky Bones said:

I guess it keeps the 20 Baht stores ticking over selling medals and ribbons.

No wonder every uniform wearer in this country seems to have a paratrooper badge attached to their garb. I also guess they are cheaper if you buy them by the dozen.

[Misterwhisper]

Where are the clown uniforms?

[Classic Ray]

Immigration police in non-public facing positions eg admin, only wear uniform once per week, but have badged polo shirts to wear the other days, all of which they have to buy themselves. 
 

My kids in private school have multiple uniforms which change between kindergarten and primary, needing complete replacement. 
 

Why kids can’t have standard colours, eg grey shorts/white shirts, with no restriction on badging or branding, would allow parents to buy in supermarkets and eliminate school closed shop arrangement with supplier, I don’t know. Probably, like most of public life here, education is a business not a profession.

[hughrection]

6 hours ago, webfact said:

The four uniforms for kindergarten students at the school include a normal uniform for Monday and Tuesday, a physical education uniform for Wednesday, a soldier uniform for Thursday and an ASEAN uniform for Friday.

Cha - Ching for the school. They will of course supply said 'uniforms'.  ????

 

[hughrection]

10 minutes ago, Misterwhisper said:

Where are the clown uniforms?

Ask and ye shall receive. ????

 

[hughrection]

52 minutes ago, cdemundo said:

Are you referring to the government employees wearing military style uniforms?

I can understand what you are saying.

It's just that I haven't seen it in other nations.

Do other nations have civilian employees in government wear military uniforms?

 

Yes, China, North Korea et al.  ????

[actonion]

Not only government workers..

 

Pre covid, My Wife was employed at one of Pattaya 's large entertainment venue's,  it was not a uniform as such, but all the staff employed there were told  what color Shirt, Skirt, Trousers  to wear on any  particular day,  i told her wear what u like, she replied she would lose her job if she did that

[spidermike007]

The Thai military is not only an extremely toxic organization, but in addition to that, they do very little to benefit Thai society. They are like a vampire sucking the blood of society. They have enormous budgets, and where that money goes in anyone's guess. Where were they when we needed the borders protected, at the height of covid? There used to be a small amount of prestige being associated with the military here. That is all gone now. They have lost whatever little bit of luster they once had, if they had any. Gone, baby gone. 

 

The people in charge of these schools should be punished for their foolishness, extreme convention, and lack of creativity.