My 4yr Old Daugher Asks, Why Teacher Hurt My Heart.

[lonexpat]

This topic should just end on this:

WHY would you send your kid to a cheap thai school when you have the chance to send a third worlder to a good school in a good country and come back to his own country where she will be able to make a ton of money or educate her people?

If you cant afford it, you shouldnt of had children in the first place.. Poor kids get made fun of their whole life unless they goto a really crappy school. and if people tease her her whole life she will end up troubled. and this is all your fault

You're talking shit. My wife went to Thai government schools and has both an MA and a PhD from one of the better British universities. And a pretty large proportion of her friends did exactly the same. By the same token, I went to a very expensive school in England and I've achieved pretty much fuc_k all and on top of that, I don't have two pennies to rub together. It's pure bullshit to suggest that going to a school in Britain, America, or wherever, is going to mean that she'll automatically 'make a ton of money'.British and American schools have their share of wasters, Thai schools have their share of high achievers.

And calling Thais third worlders is pure trolling.

While I agree with your points on the whole, don't tell me they have a great number of high achievers, because that is shit also. They have a few and they have to do things 3 times more than Europe or America to get the same results.

From one who has experience of working in the government school arena for many years here I can tell you that the majority of problems with Thai children start way before the school gate gets crossed for the first time. I am struggling to think of another comparable nation as this that are so completely clueless as to what is necessary and required to successfully bring up a child here.

[scorecard]

I have a slightly different situation, but before that , I agree that you absolutely must speak to the headmistress and make it plain (politely) that this is disgraceful.

I agree that, if you can afford it, send her to a bi-lingual school where there's a good chance there are different attitudes.

My own situation is this. I have an adopted Thai son (100% Thai), now an adult. When he started university (typical B class university - because it's one of the few that offer the program he wanted) he was told by one lecturer that she wouldn't teach him unless he changed his ugly farang family name to a typical Thai family name. He ignored all of this and will soon graduate.

During his studies he had to take compulsory English, although his English is one step away from native speaker. His English teacher was a 19 year old Thai girl who couldn't speak English. At the first or second lesson with this girl he repeated a rote sentence but as he did so he corrected the words (slight correction, I know this because he came home and showed me the handout which did have errors). She exploded and sent him out of the room with abuse about stupid farang. She failed him for English for that semester.

Another example, my son has a four year old daughter, she was hospitalised about one year back. The head nurse, when she saw the name, made a comment that it wasn't nice for little girls to have a Thai first name and a farang second name and all of this said in front of me in both Thai and English.

My son asked to speak to the hospital director, which was ignored until I showed my name card, then suddenly they all fell over themselves to be polite (lecturer at one of the so called top two Thai universites and I have a Ph.D.). I repeated my son's request to see the director and we were in his office within 5 minutes.

After some discussions the head nurse was called in and told to apologize, which she did, and was told that she would be docked one month pay. The director explained to my family that it was not the first time she had been punished for being rude to patients.

[midasthailand]

Well OP, I must say that I, for one, am very disappointed that you have not taken the trouble to follow up with some feedback as to the events of Monday? Seems to me that (apart from the idiots that lurk on every thread), you have received some excellent advice. Since people took the time and trouble to try and answer your OP, the least you could do would be to post a follow up reporting on what transpired at the meeting with the teacher?

[MidoriApple]

OP, I am not sure you have coming back to this thread yet? Since there are too many stuffs/ off-topics in here. It's too hard for me to read all via my BB.

Been thinking again and read a little more from one of posts after my latest, maybe right as Mr.RonZ28 in here said.."Na-Farang" is more a compliment. Maybe you should talk about your little girl's sorrow to this teacher. Since she might not intend to talk down on your cutie. Maybe they (teacher and cutie) can make up this situation, but should teacher cuddle her also and express Na-Farang means she (cutie) is cute....

We Thai, mostly see Luk-krung" is more beautiful than 100%Thai girls... ...is true!!!

Cheers

[Meridian007]

He hasn't been on since Saturday, but that is probably due to life with a four year old! I hope Midori Apple is correct, it might be a misinterpretation of intent. I know a lot of people on here get so angry about the "farang" word, but it isn't often used as a purposely derogatory term, (from my experience at least), just for ease of use.

Regardless of positive or negative, your daughter is being singled out. That can be hard for children who just want to fit in. Hopefully this can be sorted out in a mature fashion.

[hammered]

Speak to the teacher in private and expalin your concerns politely.

As for classmates. Well bullying happens the world over and there is little you can do about this that wont make the situation worse.

My own daughter has pretty much been the only foreigner in her year and maybe the whole school for 7 or so years now and 3 of pre-school before that and she experienced a bit of bullying to start with but she has found her way to deal with it and to be honest there is a lot lot less now. Learning to deal with it has also helped her become a very confident young teenager, and one who while always now willing to talk to Mum and Dad about her problems likes to sort them out herself. In the first few years at school and pre-school I never thought this is how it would go, but we always reassured her while telling her she had to find her own way to deal with it and providing her with advice on this, and always being willing to listen. I dont know if this was/is the right thing to do in general but it worked.

[ThaiBrat]

All is well and it ends well.

My daughter never went to school on Monday; this was under the advice from my Mrs.

I stayed at home a played with my daughter whilst the wife went to the school for a chat. She returned about an hour later holding a story book about a Princess (thai version of Cinderella type story) My Mrs asked our daughter if the teacher had read a story to them, and straight way she replied “Yes mummy that one”

As you by now have guessed, she referred to the princess as beautiful; the teacher stated she was not referring to my daughter, when asking questions to the whole class and Na Falang was mentioned.

I took my daughter to school today, and I was expecting the teachers to be shy and not try to look me in the face. Totally opposite, her teacher could not be more talkative to me and trying to make sure that I was not upset over the incident.

Picked the daughter up from school at 3pm, asked if she had a nice day? Yes Daddy Krew Nang love me.

End of issue.

[onethailand]

Well done. Good to see that all ended well!

All is well and it ends well.

My daughter never went to school on Monday; this was under the advice from my Mrs.

I stayed at home a played with my daughter whilst the wife went to the school for a chat. She returned about an hour later holding a story book about a Princess (thai version of Cinderella type story) My Mrs asked our daughter if the teacher had read a story to them, and straight way she replied “Yes mummy that one”

As you by now have guessed, she referred to the princess as beautiful; the teacher stated she was not referring to my daughter, when asking questions to the whole class and Na Falang was mentioned.

I took my daughter to school today, and I was expecting the teachers to be shy and not try to look me in the face. Totally opposite, her teacher could not be more talkative to me and trying to make sure that I was not upset over the incident.

Picked the daughter up from school at 3pm, asked if she had a nice day? Yes Daddy Krew Nang love me.

End of issue.

[midasthailand]

Very good news indeed! Thanks for the update.

[jubby]

Good. I must say I've got 3 girls, 6, 8 & 11 in a Thai School. Half English , Half Thai. Never had any issues. OK. there's a bit of playground banter but they give as good as they take; if anything they are probably more agressive than the Thai Kids. They are almost the only Luk-Kreung in the School. probably 500 kids there. If anything they tend to be the teachers pet. They look forward to school everyday.

[sk1max]

[MidoriApple]

Woww..that's great, khun ThaiBrat....It turned out all well, I am happy for that..

Anyway, this is very good thread, might be and may be some got the same situation. Will be good study.

[dsprtliving]

Nice to hear everyone involved had a happy ending!

[makavelithedon]

Nice to hear everyone involved had a happy ending!

Whilst it's nice to hear of the happy ending, I can't help feeling this story highlights the unbelievable way so many ill-informed members jumped to the wrong conclusion and wanted the teacher hung drawn...............

Furthermore it shows that misunderstandings in meaning when translating Thai to English are very easy. I have asked a number of Thai friends the meaning of 'Na Farang' and most (although not all) in that school environment, certainly didn't say it was how the little girl should have ended up feeling.

I would hope the OP has his wife explain this to the 4 year old, because it seems apparent that she has a very confused understanding or impression of its contextual meaning and use which would have probably avoided her feeling upset at all in the first place!

[thaihome]

Also, this shows the importance of having an ongoing relationship with the teacher, not just formal conferences every once in a while, showing that you are very interested in your child’s education. If the OP and/or his wife, instead of just picking child up from outside the school had taken the time and effort to speak to the teacher on a regular, if not daily basis, the entire misunderstanding would not have happened.

TH