Pyramid cult leader appointed to reform public school curriculum

[webfact]

Pyramid Cult Leader Appointed to Reform Public School Curriculum
By Khaosod English


Mr. Art-ong Jumsai Na at Baan Suan Pyramid movement events [Photo from Baan Suan Pyramid's website]



BANGKOK — A prominent scientist has started an online petition protesting the recent appointment of a cult leader and UFO believer to lead a national education reform panel in Thailand.

“The appointing of [Mr. Art-ong Jumsai Na Ayudhya] to be in charge of Thai education by OBEC is truly unacceptable,” wrote Jessada Denduangboripant, a scientist from Chulalongkorn University on his Facebook.

Mr. Art-ong was appointed by the Office of Basic Education Commission (OBEC) to lead a subcommittee tasked with "revising and reforming" the national curriculum earlier this week, following a suggestion by the military junta to overhaul Thailand's education system.

The committee will debate issues such as whether Thai students have too much homework and whether public schools' teaching schedules are appropriate for a modern-day lifestyle, said OBEC official Kamol Rordklai on 26 August.

Yet Mr. Art-ong’s appointment has alarmed many Thai scientists because of his association with a "pyramid cult" and endorsement of pseudo-scientific ideas.

Mr. Art-ong, an engineer who reportedly collaborated with NASA on several projects, is heavily involved with the Baan Suan Pyramid movement, a cult that claims to posses the ability to heal sick people with "pyramid power" and boasts a lineage to ancient Egyptian "sorcerers." Mr. Art-ong gave lectures at many of the group's gatherings, including an occasion in which he claimed "pyramid power" can slow down the decay of fruit.

Mr. Art-ong has also expressed his belief in extra-terrestrials; he asserted in one lecture that he could communicate with the "UFOs" that were hovering over the earth.

As of the time this article is published, international astrophysicists have unanimously agreed that Earth has not been visited by any extraterrestrial civilisation.

To protest his appointment, Chulalongkorn University scientist Mr. Jessada launched an online petition calling for the removal of Mr. Art-ong from the OBEC subcommittee, citing his support for pseudoscience and "lack of credibility."

"If Dr. Art-ong, a believer in pseudoscience, has the role in reforming curriculum, he may use beliefs that are not based on credible science to affect his decisions about reforming the curriculum," the petition reads. "It may lead to teaching false beliefs to Thai youth."

The petition concludes by stating that "good education will enable our youths today to grow up as important figures in the future" and urging the OBEC to reconsider its decision.

Over 1,000 people have signed the petition so far.

Mr. Jessada is a vocal opponent to pseudoscience and paranormal beliefs in Thailand. He became widely known when he called for scientific test of "GT200" devices, a version of fake bomb-detecting device sold by a British businessman to Thailand's armed forces several years ago.

After initial resistance, Thai authorities conducted the test in early 2010. The result established the GT200's accuracy to be as good as random chance, forcing then-Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva to suspend the use of GT200 devices across the country. However, top army leaders and security officials continued to defend the devices long after the test.

A former prominent defender of GT200 devices, Pornthip Rojanasunand, was recently re-appointed as the head of Central Institute of Forensic Science.

Correction: The original version of the article incorrectly described Mr. Art-ong as a physicist. He is in fact an engineer.

Source: http://en.khaosod.co.th/detail.php?newsid=1409494445&section=14


-- Khaosod English 2014-09-01

[clockman]

The blind leading the blind.

[waynethor]

I think there will be lots of people from the "old school of thought" that won't want the education system changed very much, although it needs a lot of big changes. Maybe having someone who doesn't follow the most conventional thinking to head a committee about education reform is a good thing. I can imagine that the suggestion of teaching Thai students critical thinking and analytic skill will seem crazy to traditional Thais, and making them aware that Thailand is not the center of the universe will ruffle some feather as well.

[HiSoLowSoNoSo]

Just waiting for the day when my Thai son comes home from school one day and tell me that UFOs are for real!

[retell]

Just waiting for the day when my Thai son comes home from school one day and tell me that UFOs are for real!

Then its not an ufo anymore

[Thaddeus]

Just waiting for the day when my Thai son comes home from school one day and tell me that UFOs are for real!

They are real, the ministries are full of Unbelievably Fatuous Objects.

[chooka]

The next generation of English teachers

[daoyai]

I think there will be lots of people from the "old school of thought" that won't want the education system changed very much, although it needs a lot of big changes. Maybe having someone who doesn't follow the most conventional thinking to head a committee about education reform is a good thing. I can imagine that the suggestion of teaching Thai students critical thinking and analytic skill will seem crazy to traditional Thais, and making them aware that Thailand is not the center of the universe will ruffle some feather as well.

Possibly in some sort of paradoxical logical flip, however this character seems to embody the antithasis of "critical thinking skills".

[wilcopops]

This is a seriously disturbing piece of news!

http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.php?newsid=1409494445

[noahvail]

[SoilSpoil]

Aliens will never understand Thainess.

[waynethor]

I think there will be lots of people from the "old school of thought" that won't want the education system changed very much, although it needs a lot of big changes. Maybe having someone who doesn't follow the most conventional thinking to head a committee about education reform is a good thing. I can imagine that the suggestion of teaching Thai students critical thinking and analytic skill will seem crazy to traditional Thais, and making them aware that Thailand is not the center of the universe will ruffle some feather as well.

Possibly in some sort of paradoxical logical flip, however this character seems to embody the antithasis of "critical thinking skills".

I don't see why someone with an open mind to the possibility that humans aren't the only "intelligent" life-form in an unimaginably large universe would be the antithesis of critical thinking. In fact, I see the opposite. Would you prefer that Thais go on believing that Thailand is the center of the universe and Thais are the only "real" life-form that matters?

[oldsailor35]

Just hope and pray that when the first intergalactical holiday maker gets scammed by a Phuket jet ski operator, they will just beam the bloody lot up and take off, never to be seen again.

[oldsailor35]

The next generation of English teachers

Geeze chooka, i have often wondered what you look like ! Is this what is known as a 'selfie'

Edited September 1, 2014 by oldsailor35

[waynethor]

I think there will be lots of people from the "old school of thought" that won't want the education system changed very much, although it needs a lot of big changes. Maybe having someone who doesn't follow the most conventional thinking to head a committee about education reform is a good thing. I can imagine that the suggestion of teaching Thai students critical thinking and analytic skill will seem crazy to traditional Thais, and making them aware that Thailand is not the center of the universe will ruffle some feather as well.

Possibly in some sort of paradoxical logical flip, however this character seems to embody the antithasis of "critical thinking skills".

I don't see why someone with an open mind to the possibility that humans aren't the only "intelligent" life-form in an unimaginably large universe would be the antithesis of critical thinking. In fact, I see the opposite. Would you prefer that Thais go on believing that Thailand is the center of the universe and Thais are the only "real" life-form that matters?

Oh no!!! I just read the rest of the article and it seems that this guys claims to communicate with UFOs. Believing they exist is okay but actually claiming that you communicate with them regularly is not so good. Oh well, who knows? He may be a little crazy but that doesn't mean he can't have some good ideas about education.

[ezzra]

Is this a joke right??? are you eavi'n a laugh yeah?

[Lupatria]

Whats the difference between him, guys who run an international airport or civil servants in charge of government house who all believe in ghosts and evil spirits? Maybe ancient 3rd world behavior and undeceiving education are incompatible...

[hotsoup]

Well given that almost everything about the so=called Thai education 'system' is unacceptable I cannot see that this can be any worse! When does a joke stop being a joke?

[klauskunkel]

Thai Curriculum vs. Pyramid Power

...taking bets now

[newatthis]

Hopefully he'll cut my hours down each week so the students can do classes on extra-terrestrial communication. They're off in the clouds most of time anyway.

[oztaurus]

Will he be suggesting that Kool-Aid be served in all schools?

[Emster23]

If they keep this kind of appointment going, might make Texas look sane by comparison. And that is not easy at all.

[Tatsujin]

You're missing the big picture guys . . . he's being appointed so that they can institute a surreptitious brainwashing policy to make all schoolchildren happy and content, to reduce the amount of street racing (and "gang" violence) and to provide motivational reinforcement that they can actually work hard if they want to . . . maybe . . .

[canuckamuck]

Well they are thinking outside the box these days.

I would have thought they would get someone who specialized in education to head up such a committee.

Nope, a cult leader who talks to UFO's is clearly the way to go here.

Everyone still happy the direction things are going now.

Edited September 1, 2014 by canuckamuck

[Chao Lao Beach]

Maybe he also believes in "Critical Thinking" as well, yeah that'el really spook them

[HUAHIN62]

No nepotism or corruption here, move on.

[FangFerang]

I find myself uncomfortable with this appointment for several reasons. I like the article less, and for the same reasons. Both are mixing belief with ideas supported by evidence.

Nonetheless, claiming that all the world's astrophysicists are unanimous in saying Earth has never been visited by an extraterrestrial is poppycock. Most would say -- "show me evidence, until then I draw no conclusions". Not drawing a conclusion means just that. The astrophysicists have not said what the article claims at all. A few I know personally, from when I worked at TJNAF (the Thomas Jefferson Nuclear Accelerator Facility) speculated (not a belief system) that we have quite probably caught someone's attention by sending out radio pulses from nuclear weapon detonations, but ...this is funny..."we're not interesting enough to bother with yet,"

No science professional is going to stick his neck out for an unprovable theory, ever, but find some evidence and then they would be happy to have a professional opinion. Until then, it is 'no comment' or speculation. Even if we found evidence it would not change anything except perceptions. It would still be alarm clocks and taxes and pass the mustard, please.

That is why I am uncomfortable with the appointment and article. Belief and proof are widely different things, and mixing them is like claiming that oil and water make a homogeneous solution. Scientists draw conclusions based on evidence. Show them new evidence and they change the conclusions -- that's what progress is.

That really ticks people off about scientists, they are not team bandwagon bearers for rugby match dialogues. Most are not involved in belief. They have understanding based on evidence, and if the evidence changes so does the understanding. It goes no farther than that.

These distinctions are quite important. Understanding can evolve, beliefs rarely do...very rarely. People die for beliefs. People live and work for understanding.

[bangon04]

Just waiting for the day when my Thai son comes home from school one day and tell me that UFOs are for real!

Then its not an ufo anymore

It was an ostrich....

[schondie]

What's the problem with this appointment?

Maybe it takes a person with far out views to make some much needed changes. Everyone else has failed and standards seem to be declining annually.

Then again, he only has pyramid power. Only someone such as Gandalf the Great could really make a difference to the Education Department.

[sirineou]

I think there will be lots of people from the "old school of thought" that won't want the education system changed very much, although it needs a lot of big changes. Maybe having someone who doesn't follow the most conventional thinking to head a committee about education reform is a good thing. I can imagine that the suggestion of teaching Thai students critical thinking and analytic skill will seem crazy to traditional Thais, and making them aware that Thailand is not the center of the universe will ruffle some feather as well.

Possibly in some sort of paradoxical logical flip, however this character seems to embody the antithasis of "critical thinking skills".

I don't see why someone with an open mind to the possibility that humans aren't the only "intelligent" life-form in an unimaginably large universe would be the antithesis of critical thinking. In fact, I see the opposite. Would you prefer that Thais go on believing that Thailand is the center of the universe and Thais are the only "real" life-form that matters?

any one who believes that humans are not the only "intelligent life-form from an unimaginable large universe would not be the antithesis of critical thinking, But some one who believes that they visit us or that Pyramids have healing powers would be.