Tulsi joins the party of Common Sense

[webfact]

Kids risk exposure to 'improper' material

By Wannapa Khaopa

The Nation

Discussion group urges blocks to inappropriate use

Before it begins handing out free tablet computers to school children, the government should ensure its ability to effectively block students' access to inappropriate material on the Internet, a discussion group urged yesterday.

The group, meeting at Ramathibodi Hospital, suggested that students of a more suitable age should be given the tablets, rather than Prathom 1 primary children, as planned.

Not only do teachers of the target students have to be prepared for the use of the new technology, but parents should also learn how to use the tablets and understand the technology so they can monitor students' use of the tablets and prevent them from accessing improper websites and games.

"Office of Basic Education Commission secretarygeneral Chinnapat Bhumirat said schools would have a screening system to block students' access to the Internet as they would have to use the schools' intranet. We want this screening plan to be practical, but people are worried that it won't be, because children learn about technology very quickly [so they may be able to avoid the screening system]," said the head of the Child Safety Promotion and Injury Prevention Research Centre, Adisak Plitponkarnpim.

Sirichai Hongsanguansri, a child psychiatrist at Mahidol University's Faculty of Medicine, said some children aged only 10 or 12 were now able to hack into data.

Parents and paediatricians said they wanted parents to be prepared and to learn about the technology so they could help their children make appropriate use of the tablets. Many had no experience of the technology.

"Parents should be with primaryschool students when they use the tablets, while good and interesting software should be available for them to study. Thailand has screening systems, but they are not good enough to protect children," said the manager of the Internet Foundation for the Development of Thailand, Srida Tantaatipanit.

Sirichai said he was worried about children's health, as research in foreign countries had found that game addiction could lead to unexplained somatic complaints. His own research found game addiction also caused obesity in children.

"The policy to distribute the tablets to Prathom 1 students is likely to worsen their intelligence, health and behaviour if the government is unable to control the risk factors," he said. "Prathom 1 students cannot clearly identify what is right or wrong, or what they should or should not do. We should not allow children that are too young be exposed to improper programmes because this will result in a negative, rather than positive, impact on them."

-- The Nation 2011-08-24

[patjem]

The type of tablet proposed was not the latest Apple or Samsung model..... Who mentioned anything about even it having an Internet connection, either?

[siampolee]

We should not allow children that are too young be exposed to improper programmes because this will result in a negative, rather than positive, impact on them."

Perhaps the truth of the matter is that the children and their parents will possibly use the tablet to search the net thus exposing the truth about democracy and the duplicity that is practised by many if not all of the politicians and government official involved in running the country.

The truth is indeed a powerful weapon in the hands of those that seek to improve society.

Thailand has screening systems, but they are not good enough to protect children," said the manager of the Internet Foundation for the Development of Thailand, Srida Tantaatipanit.

I think the correct expression for the above comment is, " censorship."

[thaicbr]

We should not allow children that are too young be exposed to improper programmes because this will result in a negative, rather than positive, impact on them."

Perhaps the truth of the matter is that the children and their parents will possibly use the tablet to search the net thus exposing the truth about democracy and the duplicity that is practised by many if not all of the politicians and government official involved in running the country.

The truth is indeed a powerful weapon in the hands of those that seek to improve society.

Thailand has screening systems, but they are not good enough to protect children," said the manager of the Internet Foundation for the Development of Thailand, Srida Tantaatipanit.

I think the correct expression for the above comment is, " censorship."

So you think that 6 year old children SHOULD be able to look at porn sites or similar .............Amazing

Maybe the correct comment for siampolee is scumbag.... try and leave politics out of childrens education.. i know it's hardbut the people talking were NOT politicians.

Edited August 24, 2011 by thaicbr

[siampolee]

I think you missed the point entirely CBR I certainly know our kids at six years old were not seeking out pornography nor do they now at the ages of 11,15 and 18.

How do we parents know ? A keyboard logger and search set to safe, Read the post properly .

[kurnell]

Like the murdered bodies on the front page of the newspaper

[thaicbr]

I think you missed the point entirely CBR I certainly know our kids at six years old were not seeking out pornography nor do they now at the ages of 11,15 and 18.

How do we parents know ? A keyboard logger and search set to safe, Read the post properly .

and how are you going to put a keyboard logger on a tablet with a virtual keyboard and how do you set search to safe on Android (honest question as i do not think the browsers have this feature)

I did read the post properly. Your computer literate (good for you) but the vast majority of Thai parents are not. So the government will have to put in safeguards.

Personally i think this is a flawed project from the beginning. And IF they really want computers for education they should look again at the OLPC program. A computer designed for kids with infrastructure background and service. They can connect to the Internet or to dedicated school servers. Much safer and better idea. Also they have been used in limited numbers here in Thailand since 2007.

[REM]

All that I can say is "DUH". Now, IMHO, I think if they really want to give educational tools that can't do all of this, they should give them Amazon Kindles. Black and white, easy on the eyes, crappy web browser to say the best, no one would want to steal it, and there's no games for it, only books. Plus, it's pretty durable. But hey, Thai's want fun, games, music, shiny colors and something that will just give them another excuse to be even lazier.

[OzMick]

"Parents should be with primary school students when they use the tablets,............"

When you go into a Thai village, who is looking after the 6 year-olds - their 8 year-old sister. So who is going to have the tablet, and who is looking after the 6 year-olds when they get bored watching and wander off?

[Siam Simon]

cut///When you go into a Thai village, who is looking after the 6 year-olds - their 8 year-old sister.///cut

Is this anecdotal, or based on an extensive survey?

[bushwacker]

"Not only do teachers of the target students have to be prepared for the use of the new technology, but parents should also learn how to use the tablets and understand the technology"

This is so funny on so many levels. Up country the kids are looked after by the very old grandparents or older siblings who themselves are very young kids. The parents are working or busy. Parents have mastered the mobile phone, TV, and radio. I know personally many university grads from 11 years ago and they do not have a clue about using a computer. Except for maybe answering an email if the shop attendant was kind enough to bring up website so they could sign on or playing games. Then there is the problem of damage to the tablet. Dropping it, rain, banging it around etc. I predict many broken tablets in the future. And the students will lower their education because there are not replacements for the broken tablet.

This is going to be interesting to watch the fall out.

:jap:

[Kilgore Trout]

Thailand has screening systems, but they are not good enough to protect children

Just good enough to quash political dissent.

Unbelievable, what a joke

[jonclark]

I think in essence the table idea is good. But the one reservation i have is what happens 3, 6 12 months down the line as the tablets are lost, sold, damaged, smashed etc. How will these effects be mitigated. For example if a 10 year old drops it off the back of a songtow or it is stolen by older kids what will happen - will it be tough luck or will a new one be found. Kids lose books all the time, expect the same for the tablet. Books are easier to replace.

A good idea but some details need clarifying

[hammered]

It is more of a matter of finding solutions to the problems as raised as giving the kids access to this modern technology is a very good idea in itself. Now overcome the hurdles rather than use them as a way to knock the program or prevent it.

[OzMick]

cut///When you go into a Thai village, who is looking after the 6 year-olds - their 8 year-old sister.///cut

Is this anecdotal, or based on an extensive survey?

Come to Thailand and go to to a rural village - do your own research. Or ask Bushwacker (post following yours), he seems to experienced the same thing.

[snowflake]

Step one, take away all the smartphones where they record material that they should not record...

step two, hand out propper software to all computer teachers at schools...

step three, realize that all they can do is to hope as the kids will find ways around ANY system out there- and watch whatever they like!

I have been a computer teacher at my shcool for the last 5 years, and believe me, thais love to look at different stuff that they should not look at...

End of the day, give them what they want, but hope, and I do mean HOPE, they will be good, because that is all we can do...

My m1 students love to look at she-male pictures on the net--- yes, girls and boys... whatever we do to block it, they find a way to go around it...

[xminator]

Children will do what children always do - explore. That they have a new media to explore is beside the point. If left with no media to explore they will explore each other instead...

And one should think its safer in Thailand then most places with the nice government controlled censor filter. Then again, children wont care much for the political sites that are blocked...

[MaxLee]

Truth is, parents have no time to watch their children because they have to work and earn the daily income which is really low. Working long hours is quite a tiresome task that affects the motivation to do other things than learning how to use that technology....

Well if anybody wonders, why the children spend so much time in front of the computers and get fat and lazy,... the government has to think again...

[dasy]

We should not allow children that are too young be exposed to improper programmes because this will result in a negative, rather than positive, impact on them."

Perhaps the truth of the matter is that the children and their parents will possibly use the tablet to search the net thus exposing the truth about democracy and the duplicity that is practised by many if not all of the politicians and government official involved in running the country.

The truth is indeed a powerful weapon in the hands of those that seek to improve society.

Thailand has screening systems, but they are not good enough to protect children," said the manager of the Internet Foundation for the Development of Thailand, Srida Tantaatipanit.

I think the correct expression for the above comment is, " censorship."

There will not be any internet connection just a connection to a station called PT TV with "suitable and appropriate information for the best interest of the people without giving advantages to special groups or individuals......"

[Steely Dan]

If camfrog was anything to go by perhaps the concern is that older 'kids' will themselves produce 'improper material'.

[KhunBJ]

Sirichai said he was worried about children's health, as research in foreign countries had found that game addiction could lead to unexplained somatic complaints. His own research found game addiction also caused obesity in children.

"The policy to distribute the tablets to Prathom 1 students is likely to worsen their intelligence, health and behaviour if the government is unable to control the risk factors," he said. "Prathom 1 students cannot clearly identify what is right or wrong, or what they should or should not do. We should not allow children that are too young be exposed to improper programmes because this will result in a negative, rather than positive, impact on them."

Well...it is not that kids in this country do not already have access to internet ... internet cafes with loads of games are all over the country and they are being used ... !

It is not the Government job to tell kids what is right or wrong nor is it the job of the schools or teachers for that matter ... it is the parents responsibility, if they do their job then everything will be fine and the kids will become valuable citizen of society later in life.

[hammered]

Sirichai said he was worried about children's health, as research in foreign countries had found that game addiction could lead to unexplained somatic complaints. His own research found game addiction also caused obesity in children.

"The policy to distribute the tablets to Prathom 1 students is likely to worsen their intelligence, health and behaviour if the government is unable to control the risk factors," he said. "Prathom 1 students cannot clearly identify what is right or wrong, or what they should or should not do. We should not allow children that are too young be exposed to improper programmes because this will result in a negative, rather than positive, impact on them."

Well...it is not that kids in this country do not already have access to internet ... internet cafes with loads of games are all over the country and they are being used ... !

It is not the Government job to tell kids what is right or wrong nor is it the job of the schools or teachers for that matter ... it is the parents responsibility, if they do their job then everything will be fine and the kids will become valuable citizen of society later in life.

I would guess there are also issues concerning controlling educators over what Children get to learn. When it is books or even e-books and locked sites they have control, but with full internet access children especially as they grow older will have increasing freedom to learn from whatever sources they can access and the control of what they learn is removed from the education ministry and those employed by it. That has societal and political implications that some may not want to face.

[KhunBJ]

Sirichai said he was worried about children's health, as research in foreign countries had found that game addiction could lead to unexplained somatic complaints. His own research found game addiction also caused obesity in children.

"The policy to distribute the tablets to Prathom 1 students is likely to worsen their intelligence, health and behaviour if the government is unable to control the risk factors," he said. "Prathom 1 students cannot clearly identify what is right or wrong, or what they should or should not do. We should not allow children that are too young be exposed to improper programmes because this will result in a negative, rather than positive, impact on them."

Well...it is not that kids in this country do not already have access to internet ... internet cafes with loads of games are all over the country and they are being used ... !

It is not the Government job to tell kids what is right or wrong nor is it the job of the schools or teachers for that matter ... it is the parents responsibility, if they do their job then everything will be fine and the kids will become valuable citizen of society later in life.

I would guess there are also issues concerning controlling educators over what Children get to learn. When it is books or even e-books and locked sites they have control, but with full internet access children especially as they grow older will have increasing freedom to learn from whatever sources they can access and the control of what they learn is removed from the education ministry and those employed by it. That has societal and political implications that some may not want to face.

The Thai Curriculum specifies what kids need to learn ... but there is of course , Thanks God , no big brother watching everybody 24 hrs a day ... and that is good

[Soi Sauce]

Is this idea of giving kiddies a tablet used elsewhere?

I've never heard of such from developed nations where education is thought to be important. If they don't think it's worthwhile, why does Thailand want to do this. Here, education is rightly viewed as poor. Do the rulers want to make it poorer?

If they want a good education system, copy a country that's got one. Don't introduce silly schemes that hardly any of the teaching staff can teach and the infra-structure for them to be effective does not exist.

"It is not the Government job to tell kids what is right or wrong"

Then why is sex, drinking and certain movies illegal for youngsters. Also, isn't there a law against kiddies being in net cafes after a certain time/

Edited August 24, 2011 by Soi Sauce

[hammered]

Is this idea of giving kiddies a tablet used elsewhere?

I've never heard of such from developed nations where education is thought to be important. If they don't think it's worthwhile, why does Thailand want to do this. Here, education is rightly viewed as poor. Do the rulers want to make it poorer?

If they want a good education system, copy a country that's got one. Don't introduce silly schemes that hardly any of the teaching staff can teach and the infra-structure for them to be effective does not exist.

"It is not the Government job to tell kids what is right or wrong"

Then why is sex, drinking and certain movies illegal for youngsters. Also, isn't there a law against kiddies being in net cafes after a certain time/

Several countries plan on moving their education systems to the us of e-book/e--material. That will mean using readers/tabs/smart devices. Korea plans on going paperless by 2015 and has already experimented with elementary students. Some US states have similar but less bold plans. It is going to be the future for education texts as advantages outweigh disadvantages although the publishing industry may fight hard.

If Thailand has the text digitized then the tab scheme makes a lot of sense as there really isnt any need to go through all the stages others have when you can jump straight there. However, a few months ago Asia Books stated that although they had all their English Language books digitized that at the moment there were technical issues relating to Thai fonts and e-readers that needed to be overcome. I'm sure that cant be far off and will likely be accelerated by government announcments of tab introduction.

A lot of people seem to miss that the tab as issued in Thailand although having a lot of potential and far more than say a kindle is really going to be used initially as a text accessing/reading device and it isnt much change in that way.

[Amras]

Is this idea of giving kiddies a tablet used elsewhere?

I've never heard of such from developed nations where education is thought to be important. If they don't think it's worthwhile, why does Thailand want to do this. Here, education is rightly viewed as poor. Do the rulers want to make it poorer?

If they want a good education system, copy a country that's got one. Don't introduce silly schemes that hardly any of the teaching staff can teach and the infra-structure for them to be effective does not exist.

Lots of private and even starting with the higher end of 'public' schools in Australia are requiring students to have laptops in class now. So it's no different and technology is working it's way into class rooms in the west. The tablets are jus the idea of a 'cheap' laptop.

[Wavefloater]

I fear that these tablet computers will quickly become nothing more than toys for the Thai boy and girls. Certainly, the Thai education system needs a lot of help to make it effective, and perhaps a technological approach is the way to go, but it sounds too much like this is another typically rushed Thai government plan that has not been thought through.

To see if it's a reasonable plan before going full steam ahead, It would be logical to try this as a small pilot program in one of the areas where introducing this type of technology would thought to be difficult. There have been numerous examples of Thai laws and policy changes that have been just downright embarrassing because they weren't thought through in the first place, but Thais never seem to learn from their mistakes.

Edited August 24, 2011 by Wavefloater

[Oberkommando]

If they can't get the basics of education right, this scheme is only going to serve to enrich those who are behind it.

[Moonrakers]

I'd give 90% of the tablet a live maximum life span of 2 months.

[siampolee]

(1) And how are you going to put a keyboard logger on a tablet with a virtual keyboard and how do you set search to safe on Android (honest question as i do not think the browsers have this feature)

(2) I did read the post properly. Your computer literate (good for you) but the vast majority of Thai parents are not. So the government will have to put in safeguards.

(2 )Personally i think this is a flawed project from the beginning. And IF they really want computers for education they should look again at the OLPC program. A computer designed for kids with infrastructure background and service. They can connect to the Internet or to dedicated school servers. Much safer and better idea. Also they have been used in limited numbers here in Thailand since 2007.

Question 1:

Answer to your question the same as you. I don't know, however the kids notepads and their home P.C. is monitored as I stated "keyboard loggers and safe search''.

Question 2:

My apologies sir, You caught me before my morning coffee and I'm a crabby old git till my morning coffee, Victor Meldrew lives!!!

Question 3:

In total agreement with you,along with the fact that responsible parenting is about as rare as hens teeth in Thailand this project in my view is on a par with herding cats. However I am sure that there are some big money pits out there for this scheme. Hence the allure of it for the vested interests and their retirement pensions or beach side condo for the " brokers.".