In the future, how will our kids explain today's politics?

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BURNING ISSUE
In the future, how will our kids explain today's politics?
Chularat Saengpassa
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- EACH YEAR, Thai kids can fully celebrate their childhood on only one day - the second Saturday of the year - which this year falls on January 11.

This year is special. Thanks to the prolonged anti-government protest, the Rajdamnoen rally site will become another entertainment venue for the children, aside from major venues in Bangkok - chiefly the Government House and the Parliament building.

Also, thanks to the prolonged protest, Thai kids are being given a new lesson in democracy.

At present, there are activities at schools for children of all ages, starting when they are in Prathom 1 (Grade 1). In the Office of Basic Education's teacher manual, 14 activities are suggested to promote understanding in democracy at three levels - family, school and community - among children in Prathom 1-3 (Grade 1-3). More activities are suggested for children up to Matthayom 6 (Grade 12).

Activities for the young students include a session to train them how to solve conflict through listening and peaceful communications. Children will be trained to see the merits of rules and social norms. They are taking "leader" and "follower" roles and participating in activities in their communities. Overall, they are given civic education - to learn their basic rights and duties.

I recalled the day when we elected the class leader. It was chaotic, with kids raising their hands for several candidates. It took some time before we learnt that we could vote for only one candidate.

At the cafeteria, we queued up for food, to learn the meaning of "first-come, first-serve" regardless of student seniority.

A teacher of Social Studies for junior-secondary students in Pathum Thani said she had decided not to mention Thailand's ongoing political conflict in class because she was not sure how students would interpret her words about it at home. She was worried that if the students referred to what she talked about in class to their parents, she and her school could get into trouble.

Despite well-designed courses, we as students learn there is no such thing as equality in Thai society. At school, particularly in the provinces, some students are not punished for breaking rules if their parents are the school's main patrons or influential figures in the provinces.

At the family level most parents, lacking better ways and means to educate their children about what they should and should not do, stick to the "Because I say so!" phrase.

At the community level, seniority also rules. The leader's voice is always the loudest. It is not surprising that when kids grow up, they yearn for financial and non-financial power so they can abuse others for their own benefit.

Pranee Muangnoi, a specialist in paediatrics at the Child and Adolescent Psychiatry unit in Bangkok Hospital, noted that children learn more from actions than preaching. In an interview in November, she expressed concern about children taken to the anti-government rally site by their parents.

She noted that though these children do not understand what people were saying, they could absorb the words and actions, particularly children aged below 12, whose emotional and thinking process is not fully developed.

The ongoing political protest also tests Thailand's education system. At a Bangkok university, two law lecturers share different political views - raising the question of how students of both classes can be taught when it comes to the rule of law.

Children in one camp were told that to end the political conflict in a democratic way, their parents must cast their votes in the February 2 election. Those in the other camp were told the election is not the answer and an undemocratic method is necessary when there are too many corrupt politicians.

At school, would any teacher rip off students' voting rights for the school's student leader, when knowing that some candidates were buying votes? What they should have done was to ensure the candidates do not cheat.

In this world, despite different voting methods, most countries view elections as the most democratic way to gain legislative representatives. When they grow up, our children will need a strong knowledge base to answer their foreign friends' questions.

The protest poses a big challenge to Thailand's civic education and a bigger challenge for all children, who are our future.


-- The Nation 2014-01-07

[Thaddeus]

Dear Mum and Dad,

Grow up.

Thanks.

Your children.

[arthurboy]

How will today's children explain the state of Thai politics in the future?

Well, I guess the way that today's adult do, given the decades of corruption, party switching, cronyism and nepotism.

Without a clue.

sent from my hippo phone

[Lingba]

well lets see...

"there were three guys walking down the street, a red shirt, a yellow shirt, and a black shirt......."

[ramrod711]

In the future, how will our kids explain today's politics?

A better question woul be; How are they going to pay back all the money they owe, thanks to their parents?

[noitom]

The same way they explain it today in Thailand.

[tom21]

the same way you can explain the politics in Germany in the 1930's

[PatOngo]

Politics require only a one word explanation....."Greed"

[Katipo]

It won't be hard as I doubt things will change in the next 20 years.

[Soutpeel]

Ah yes children's day, let's teach them about democracy while they are sitting in a tank

[DocN]

...mai pen rai...?!

[MILT]

I think it may go like this:

One family to rule them all, One family to find them,
One family to bring them all and in the darkness bind them.
In the Land of smiles where Thaskin Shadows lie.”

[MaxLee]

"In the future, how will our kids explain today's politics?

"Easy money, easy honey, without doing work or questioning the FACE status quo"

"Also, thanks to the prolonged protest, Thai kids are being given a new lesson in democracy."

Yeah, there are two lunatic parties, you either chose one or the other, but the one you vote against will screw you and your family over, and so does the other one. Either of the two will brainwash your brain dead as much as possible, so you lose your ability to think, to question and to think differently from an early age on. In extreme cases, you will get shot dead for causing loss of face.

"Activities for the young students include a session to train them how to solve conflict through listening and peaceful communications.

Yep, just shut the hell up, follow orders without questioning, or get beaten, punished, annihilated or shot dead

[Zolt]

They won't. You think I want to explain 80's politics to anyone?

[tominbkk]

Won't be much to explain, if Thaksin gets back in power.

He catches you talking about politics, and off to the killing fields you go.

We all know his predilection to extrajudicial solutions.

[meand]

"We used to have people that thought the world was flat, in 2010's we had a man named Suthep."

[harryfrompattaya]

Won't be much to explain, if Thaksin gets back in power.

He catches you talking about politics, and off to the killing fields you go.

We all know his predilection to extrajudicial solutions.

How did you learn about from the press? Too many people voice their opinion about ones they have no idea of

In Thailand it is very hard to known the truth but Farangs known everything

[ginjag]

...mai pen rai...?!

I have a hunch this will be the answer.

Unless this big showdown is successful and move forward with a large sweeping brush, change big change HAS to happen here.

It is no good anymore saying you have to have election it is the only way---YES IT IS IF the house is fumigated and disinfected--Then when cleaned I am all for the democratic procedure. Wouldn't it be nice to have a happy clean voting day, and accept the outcome-WITHOUT the existing cancer here.

National election day should be an event for all to go out and vote for what they feel is right. NO SLIME present at the booths.

Kids now just follow-tow the line and really don't give a sh#T, they are not taught anything about it---so when it is their turn to vote--most have no idea-or inclination, they will follow their parents and vote the same.

[Bpuumike]

Politics require only a one word explanation....."Greed"

I was about to put in a similar way... "Money"

[Dante99]

Greed and delusion, a lot of both plus some hate. It is always the same three, just different mixes.

[tingtongteesood]

Activities for the young students include a session to train them how to solve conflict through listening and peaceful communications.

Judging by the number of people who are shot by idiots with guns for the stupidest of reasons, I would argue that this part of the curriculum is an EPIC FAIL !!

[bigbamboo]

With art we had the Renaissance, with religion we had the Reformation, with the monarchy we had the Restoration and now Thai politics has the Retardation.

Or maybe here it will be known the Kotex with Thai politics just going through a very bad period.

[lucjoker]

what future?

Our kids?

Explain ?

[Artisi]

"We used to have people that thought the world was flat, in 2010's we had a man named Suthep."

Prior to and currently manipulating Thai politics we have a fugitive criminal named Thasksin.

[aripengu]

It's actually a good article and an important question, it seems most people commenting didn't even bother reading it. Think before vomiting the usual BS.

[Barney R]

Have you actually sat down and talked to thai's especially from Issan where my wife is from ? They know nothing of their history . I sat down with them and tried to explain about the history especial with Laos as I thought they might be interested but no , all they said was " not help me now so not care " . And after to talking to many thai's from Chiangmai to Koh Chang the answer is basically the same apart from one bank manager on Koh Chang who had a deep understanding and respect for Thailands history .

[Thai at Heart]

They won't be waiting for adults to explain it to them. By then the kids will be looking at the adults and asking "how could you be so dumb and naive about Thaksin and suthep?"

Hands up if you find this article somewhat 1984ish.

Edited January 7, 2014 by Thai at Heart

[englishoak]

In the future, how will our kids explain today's politics?

"They were all a bunch of thieving Psychopaths"

[harryfrompattaya]

Have you actually sat down and talked to thai's especially from Issan where my wife is from ? They know nothing of their history . I sat down with them and tried to explain about the history especial with Laos as I thought they might be interested but no , all they said was " not help me now so not care " . And after to talking to many thai's from Chiangmai to Koh Chang the answer is basically the same apart from one bank manager on Koh Chang who had a deep understanding and respect for Thailands history .

Right on most do not even know that 150 years less than 1 per cent Thais ate white rice While we the west was eating white rice

[wileycoyote]

Depends on who wins the Election !