Here is one link........ https://prachataienglish.com/node/9990................Some which show what has gone on here........ In Thailand, while abuse of children in schools is commonplace, solutions are hard to enforce. Real reform won’t likely come from policy dictated by the Ministry of Education, but rather by taking a long, hard look at behavior embedded deep in Thai society. Thailand is rooted in authoritarian behavior. It’s nearly etched into the culture. As the old Thai idiom goes, “รักวัวให้ผูก รักลูกให้ตี,” meaning, “If you love your cow, tie it up. If you love your children, spank them.” Of course, when idioms like these became popular, there wasn’t widespread knowledge of human rights or the psychological impacts of such punishments on the well-being of young children. Researchers from the University of Michigan and the University of Texas recently looked at studies from more than 160,000 American children, of whom showed increased signs of aggression, cognitive difficulties, and mental health challenges. Punishment has been discussed repeatedly in the past, but teachers do not often know the limits of their actions. The standard military-style haircuts–crew cuts for boys and a short bob for girls–date back to the era of Thanom Kittikachorn in 1972. Like the flawed, outdated rote education system, Thailand’s rigid rules do not transcend eras. In January 2005, penalties were more clearly defined under Section 6 and Section 65 of the Child Protection Act, which define the limitations of punishments under four options: 1) lecturing; 2) threaten suspension; 3) issuance of demerits; and 4) instruct the student to join a group designed to adjust their behavior. Thailand should also examine the top-down hierarchies that dominate society. School principals and teachers hold higher status in society, as do other professions that come with a public pension. Many Thai people see teaching as a noble and secure profession. Further, the practice of deferring naturally to those of higher status, particularly in schools, contributes to the problem. The Thai practice of krengjai, a norm where people engage in behavior that encourages a kind of humility, respect, and consideration of others is problematic, as in schools it means deferring or accepting power differences almost by default. Among a growing segment of the population that has been exposed to best practices where corporal punishment is not a part of school culture and where an increasing number of Thais are sending their children abroad for a more international experience, the thought of tolerating abuse is unthinkable. But in many parts of Thailand, it goes with the territory. Many parents are overly reliant on teachers and schools in the rearing of their children, as many feel that the higher status, better educated teachers and administrative staff have the education and training that they lack. Other links........https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC1800824/ of evidence...............https://www.vice.com/en/article/thailand-schools-sexual-abuse/
Create an account or sign in to comment