Thai Police watch over children in a new project

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Police watch over children in a new project
Budsarakham Sinlapalavan
The Nation


Youngsters are given tips on self-protection by Buppharam police officers.

BANGKOK: -- Even though many people associate police stations with crime and punishment, cops at a station in Bangkok are doing something very different - they are instilling a love for learning among youngsters.

At a room in the precinct, modified as a classroom, some 50 kids between the ages of six and 14, were seen paying close attention to everything their volunteer teacher was saying, later singing and dancing in time to a ditty in the English language.

In a bid to help working parents who have no time to watch over their pre-teens during the summer break, the Buppharam Police Station in Thon Buri came up with a project called "Leave Your Children in the Care of Police". The project, running from April 1-25, is free for all and even includes free lunch.

Buppharam superintendent Pol Colonel Yutthana Pooncharas said the project was initiated by local police officers and community leaders after Metropolitan Police Bureau’s Division 8 chief Pol Maj-General Rasadakorn Yingyong came up with the idea to help to protect children from vice, especially drugs.

Under the project, children are taught academic subjects in the mornings, such as English and Thai languages and history, while afternoons are spent on things such as lessons on self-defence, social etiquette and field trips, he said.

Yutthana added that parents could go to work without worry, in the knowledge that their children were being watched over by police officers. He said the project, which is in its second week, has so far received good feedback from parents and children. He said many parents had even said that their children were behaving better thanks to the project.

A parent in his 40s, Saengthong Klangchaisri, said the project was very good and constructive as the children were taught to protect themselves, while also helping them revise their academic subjects.

"If the police had not come up with this project, the children would not have anything constructive to do and might end up getting misled by ill-intentioned people. I don't have much time to spend with my children as I'm always working," he added.

Another parent Arporn Vieaksiam, 46, said her son woke up early every day so he could attend the project, adding that this was so different from forcing him to wake up to go to school. She added that this project should expand to other communities nationwide so the safety of all children can be ensured during summer vacations.

Fifth grader Wipharat Kolachart said she was having a lot of fun at the police station because she could play and learn at the same time. Also, she said, the different field trips provided her with hands-on knowledge.

Polyarit Linkaew, another fifth grader, said he was glad to be learning about the dangers of narcotic substances and would share this knowledge with his friends.

The children are also learning about different faiths thanks to the teachers and volunteers.

Volunteer teacher Suchada Supanunt, who teaches English, said this project gave her a chance to give something back to society. She also said that teaching kids the English language would help boost their confidence and give make them brave enough to talk to foreigners.


-- The Nation 2014-04-21

[JoeThePoster]

Excellent and refreshing.

[thesetat2013]

Its about time the police started trying to help the community instead of just taking from them. The Gov should support projects like this more.

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[HeavyDrinker]

Sounds an excellent initiative as long as they don't start shaking the kids down for their dinner money or sweeties....

[NongKhaiKid]

Has the free lunch anything to do with the large turnout ?

[The stuttering parrot]

Didn't take long until the first negative comments

.

Great work and yes agreed more of this would be great.

[Wildliferescue]

Sorry for the second negative comment, but should they not first try to enforce the laws and then start other projects when they still have time left?

[cmiuc]

now they need one for adult drivers... instead of the 300+ deaths and 3000+ injuries.... teach them how to obey laws and drive safely... and givem one of those pink hats so that they can thank Ranger Bob...

[klauskunkel]

A good thing, hats off to the BiB.

[Keesters]

Police are babysitting while criminals run free. Only in Thailand!

[wandasloan]

Sorry for the second negative comment, but should they not first try to enforce the laws and then start other projects when they still have time left?

I think not. I think they should give priority to preventing crime, as they aim to do here. I hope it works a treat, but in any case it should be - and is - first priority. Sitting around waiting for people to break the law is just a circular activity, like sitting in your work room waiting for customers to beat a path to your doorway. If you are not proactive, you will not succeed ANYwhere in life, including in police work.

.

[stickylies]

Its about time the police started trying to help the community instead of just taking from them. The Gov should support projects like this more.

Sent from my GT-S5310 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

fyi: many border police squads have been helping remote border communities (education, healthcare, etc).

[BarnicaleBob]

This seems like a very progressive program that will benefit the community well. In America they have been using a similar program quite successfully. The American program is nation wide and is called Police Athletic League or PAL. It works much in the same way except part of the day is devoted to sports activities. It is also run year around, full time during the school vacation weeks and as an after school thing during the school year. In the after school season officers help the kids with their homework as well. This keeps the kids from wondering around on the streets looking for things to do that sometimes could get them into trouble.

[Bkungbank]

Slum housing are the most risk for drug as the children easily attracted by friends, parents should play important role in monitoring their children, many of drug addict are from broken family back ground . Police can only advice but the choice are up to them to decide and going to visit jail are very important itinerary to educate youngster about danger of drug too.

[ggt]

I really like this idea...just hope some lowlife does not take advantage of having access to the kids...

[soalbundy]

I think this is very positive,but i can't help thinking,why are they doing this? nobody in this enlightened country does anything for nothing

[Traveling Sailor]

Excellent and refreshing.

I totally agree! A wonderful idea. And yes, hopefully it will be expanded. It would be very beneficial to all Thais if this were to be widespread. So much better for the police than spending time looking for "tea money". Might even improve the image of the police.

[CanThaiMike]

I applaud the police. Job well done. Now if the police can implement this project nationwide and all year round that would be a great idea.

I would even as a foreigner be interested in volunteering when I have free time to help the police. This is an excellent idea.

This is the one time I would like to thank the police and congratulate them for a good job and they now need to conentrate on more programs like this to have the communities participate with police and this is a good stepping stone towards police and community and outreach projects.

[lostmebike]

Should read ...

Children watch over Police in new project

Just messing around

[Thaddeus]

Excellent and refreshing.

I totally agree! A wonderful idea. And yes, hopefully it will be expanded. It would be very beneficial to all Thais if this were to be widespread. So much better for the police than spending time looking for "tea money". Might even improve the image of the police.

Yes, this should be expanded, I would suggest that every current member of the police force should dedicate all their time to this task.

And then employ more people who want and are capable of doing real police work.

[manfred ihms]

Sorry for the second negative comment, but should they not first try to enforce the laws and then start other projects when they still have time left?

[manfred ihms]

Sorry for the second negative comment, but should they not first try to enforce the laws and then start other projects when they still have time left?

it starts with the children

[oldsailor35]

This seems like a very progressive program that will benefit the community well. In America they have been using a similar program quite successfully. The American program is nation wide and is called Police Athletic League or PAL. It works much in the same way except part of the day is devoted to sports activities. It is also run year around, full time during the school vacation weeks and as an after school thing during the school year. In the after school season officers help the kids with their homework as well. This keeps the kids from wondering around on the streets looking for things to do that sometimes could get them into trouble.

I suppose they teach them how to safely play with dad's gun as well ?

[oldsailor35]

Excellent and refreshing.

I totally agree! A wonderful idea. And yes, hopefully it will be expanded. It would be very beneficial to all Thais if this were to be widespread. So much better for the police than spending time looking for "tea money". Might even improve the image of the police.

Yes, this should be expanded, I would suggest that every current member of the police force should dedicate all their time to this task.

And then employ more people who want and are capable of doing real police work.

Why don't the education authorities ask for English speaking volunteers to come along and have English conversation with the kids, this would more helpful than the English language tuition given by most Thai teachers. At my partner's childrens school, the teacher in English cannot even make me understand what she is saying in English.

[edgarfriendly]

Unfortunately this is going to end in tears.

if the intentions are pure they will be overwhelmed with kids whose parents cant/wont pay for tuition or babysitter.

if the intentions are anything less than pure we will soon be (not) hearing stories similar to the JIS atrocity.

it goes on here already and its covered up by those in positions to do so.

let me put it this way,

i would not let me kids be looked after by a gang known worldwide for extortion/rape/trafficking & the rest.

no such thing as a free lunch they say...

Edited April 21, 2014 by edgarfriendly

[MaxLee]

rather sounds like a backstabbing manipulation propaganda to me, conceling the TRUE motives behind another populist policies, targeting children from a young age,...

We all know who the TRUE police Chief is? Don't we?....

[gandalf12]

Best thing I have heard for a long time

[tingtongteesood]

I will add a further negative comment. Whilst I agree it is nice to see the police do something for the community, since it is well known that the police are under Thaksin's thumb, I can't help wondering what exactly they are teaching to these kids.... ? I can't help wondering if this is really an attempt to bring 'red schools' into Bangkok....Call me paranoid if you want, but it wouldn't be in the least surprising if this is the truth....

[Pii Kate]

Fabulous project. May in grow into an after school program as well.

[belg]

every young thai a motosay and a gun or big knife