Educating the Whole Student

[bazmlb]

By Todd W John

September 4, 2014

The education system in Thailand continues to face numerous challenges despite ongoing efforts since the beginning of the 21^st century to reform and modernize. Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra began efforts in 2001 to bring change to the Ministry of Education with a new national curriculum and in the following years there were modest improvements to the system. Schools began seeing greater investment in equipment like computers, materials and textbooks, and an increase in native English speakers as teachers offering better foreign language instruction.

Yet while other countries have invested billions of dollars to develop competitive education, focusing on high-value skills and English-language skills, Thailand still continues lag behind Asian rivals in the race for foreign investment and as a leading business center as the education system remains mired in an outdated mindset.

"The mindset is from the nation-building and Cold War period to produce obedient and nationalistic citizens, which does not fit the 21st-century needs," said Thitinan Pongsudhirak, a political scientist at Chulalongkorn University told Reuters in a 2011 report. "It is hierarchical, top-down, with a systematic lack of critical thinking."

Indeed schools often seem more concerned with preserving national identity and patriotism while only providing students rudimentary core skills and basic literacy. Todays public schools that are charged with providing a basic education to students as a fundamental right remain overcrowded, often woefully unprepared and lackadaisical in their academic approach.

This has led to something of a boon to private education and international schools that are stepping in to fill the gap and give students, parents and the community at large educational options that will help the countrys youth succeed and to be competitive in the global marketplace of the 21^st century.

Buddhist and Christian schools alike have long held a respected place among the private educational institutions in Thailand. As a Buddhist nation the temples provided basic, primary education for centuries and were a prerequisite for any secondary education but still lacked depth beyond basic reading and memorization of scripture.

The advent of the countrys public school system in the latter half of the 20^th century resulted in a formalization of these schools and developed a more diverse primary curriculum as the private, Buddhist schools worked to give students a competitive education. Ironically a root concern with the public schools has been that elements of the Buddhist education might at times be a hurdle to the implementation of a modern educational methodology and the development of a Western approach to communication.

In 2002 Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra stated that, [schools and] teachers must radically change their way of thinking, adding that he was not sure if they would be able to do it. Some schools are trying to meet that challenge head-on in the current climate of Thai education.

Ariya Vichit Pundit School is a private, Buddhist educational institution recently opened in Chanthaburi that through a simple and yet progressive philosophy is working to redefine a students success using both traditional Buddhist teachings mixed with a refined instructional methodology.

The basic skills of science, mathematics, modern computing, social science and reading and writing are complimented with a range of performance and fine arts. Even the schools philosophies and lessons on the Buddhist Dhamma might be viewed as largely standard fare and traditional in their approach. It is however the completeness of their methods that when combined could be the radical change Thailand needs in the educational system.

Ariya Vichit Pundit operates under a philosophy of Good Head; Good Hands; Good Health; Good Heart; Good Human. Believing that these core fundamentals of a person and their education are not only the formula to an individual students success, but that it will also lead to a successful future of their family and the Thai community as a whole.

The founder of Ariya Vichit Pundit School is slight woman who can be soft spoken and wears an amiable smile that at times seems to hide the formidable, successful and modern business leader that she is. Speaking to me Dr Patcharis Hatthavichitkul sometimes looks concerned as she considers the challenges lay ahead; this soon gives way to the beaming smile of pride she feels for what the school is already accomplishing with students.

Educating should not be about pushing a student or just test scores, she says while noting that academic skill is of course a foremost goal but, it is teaching them completely [with the Buddhist Dhamma] that will give them the knowledge for their life and the ability to seek learning academically and in their future.

Not driving a student to constantly perform tasks, repetitive and supporting memorization may seem fundamentally contrary to some educators in the modern Thai school system. To Dr Patcharis though it is about instilling a sense in the student where they understand the knowledge and opportunity that is being offered to them, that their family want for them and their community stands to benefit from. By doing this she argues a student will realize the value of their own education, yearn for it and ultimately succeed where others might fail.

The school certainly appears to be a forum for growth and academic success as it does not lack any of the offerings of a modern educational institution. With construction just recently completed over the last year the trappings of the school are just as new with modern computers in a well-equipped library, state of the art audio-visual equipment and well-appointed classrooms.

These classrooms hardly seem concerned with overcrowding here at Ariya Vichit Pundit School where teachers currently outnumber students and a large class size is 3-4 students at a time. Dr Patcharis has a brief giggle at this, smiles and sips her tea, The students will come. There is opportunity here, she concludes confidently.

Her confidence is admirable and perhaps well-placed as Thailand continues to struggle to find and define education in the future. Ariya Vichit Pundit School may in fact find that while no student is a village that the village could be a student, eager to learn and reap the benefits of sound educational institutions.

[connda]

These classrooms hardly seem concerned with overcrowding here at Ariya Vichit Pundit School where teachers currently outnumber students and a large class size is 3-4 students at a time.

Of course. And how much is tuition for Ariya Vichit Pundit School, and how many rural villagers in the bottom rungs of the economic ladder could afford to attend?

How wonderful that Thailand has private schools to fill the void left by an inefficient, and largely ineffective educational system for those who cannot afford the luxury of private education. So the stop-gap measures of creating private, for profit schools targeted at the middle and upper classes of Thai society does little to address the disparity in educational opportunities afforded to those Thais who just 'scrape by' on meager incomes. But the problem lays squarely with the ingrained cultural mindset that is unwilling to admit mistakes, learn from mistakes, and change, not to mention the complete inability to question 'authority figures'. What a lesson in life: don't make mistakes and don't ask questions. And how is learning suppose to take place?
Change will come from the outside, most likely when Thailand is unable to keep pace with other neighboring countries in the ASEAN community who have embraced and thrived in the global economy. Until then, savvy businessmen and businesswomen will make great money supplying the educational needs of the children of the well-to-do, while the those relying on a public education will continue to just get by with a curriculum of rote repetition and memorization of things that have little to do with education in the 21th century.

[ggt]

I do hope they do not do away with beating the crap out of a child for not doing their homework...or doing well on a test...

Trying to saw off an ear is also one of my favorite ways for a teacher to show their superior intellect and compassion...

Ah yes...the perks of being a teacher...all those students who need to be severely disciplined...so many students...so little time...

[quandow]

I currently work for the largest private school in all southeast Asia, and the bottom line is the hubris of the Thai administration will overcome ANY suggestions or mandates made to them. The ridiculous way this school is run has us foreign teachers shaking our heads in wonder how they managed to get to be the leaders of the Thai education system. The key is that the schoolgrounds are immaculate (I recently witnessed the Thai principle scrubbing the driveway with soap and a handbrush!), so if it LOOKS good it must BE good. This is indemic throughout all Thai schools. Until they are willing to drop the mask and prepare to lose face graciously (I laugh even as I type this), it will be business as usual. Same-same, different day.

[belg]

an uneducated crowd is easier to manipulate than and educated one

case closed

[Don Aleman]

It is doubtful, no matter what the Thai ed. system does, that more than 2 of each 10 Thai graduates will go on to successful, well paid careers. Way to little/too late !

[smotherb]

I have posted this before, but it is still relevant. Thailand's educational system is a shambles, but so are most other countries' systems--including developed Western countries.

Thailand is not the only country doing poorly in Math, Science, Reading, Geography, History or any other subject, except perhaps, playing video games.

I have been involved in course development at two Western universities. The primary trend in both curricula was to lessen the complexity of the assignments. One fully-accredited university's business program chair even suggested a simulation program to replace the research, analysis and writing assignments in the capstone course of their MBA program--a video game in place of a research and development project.

It is strikingly apparent, the Educational Philosophy of the 21^st Century; dumb down the assignments.

For example, math skills are atrocious worldwide. Let’s take a look at the same math problem over the years:

1950’s Math

A vendor has 100 teapots which cost him $5 each. He sells 4/5 of them for a 30% profit each. Without using a slide rule, calculate the percentage between his initial purchase price and his total sales?

1970’s Math

A vendor has 100 teapots which cost him $5 each. He sells 80 of them for a 30% profit each. Without using a calculator, compute his profit over his initial purchase price?

1990’s Math

A vendor has 100 teapots which cost him $5 each. He sells 80 of them for $6.50 each. Has he recovered his investment in teapots; Yes or No?

2010’s Math

A vendor has 100 teapots which cost him $5 each. He sells 80 of them for $6.50 each. Underline the number 80.

[TPI]

I have posted this before, but it is still relevant. Thailand's educational system is a shambles, but so are most other countries' systems--including developed Western countries.

Thailand is not the only country doing poorly in Math, Science, Reading, Geography, History or any other subject, except perhaps, playing video games.

I have been involved in course development at two Western universities. The primary trend in both curricula was to lessen the complexity of the assignments. One fully-accredited university's business program chair even suggested a simulation program to replace the research, analysis and writing assignments in the capstone course of their MBA program--a video game in place of a research and development project.

It is strikingly apparent, the Educational Philosophy of the 21^st Century; dumb down the assignments.

For example, math skills are atrocious worldwide. Let’s take a look at the same math problem over the years:

1950’s Math

A vendor has 100 teapots which cost him $5 each. He sells 4/5 of them for a 30% profit each. Without using a slide rule, calculate the percentage between his initial purchase price and his total sales?

1970’s Math

A vendor has 100 teapots which cost him $5 each. He sells 80 of them for a 30% profit each. Without using a calculator, compute his profit over his initial purchase price?

1990’s Math

A vendor has 100 teapots which cost him $5 each. He sells 80 of them for $6.50 each. Has he recovered his investment in teapots; Yes or No?

2010’s Math

A vendor has 100 teapots which cost him $5 each. He sells 80 of them for $6.50 each. Underline the number 80.

You've obviously ben teaching in Thailand for quite a while!

[smotherb]

I have posted this before, but it is still relevant. Thailand's educational system is a shambles, but so are most other countries' systems--including developed Western countries.

Thailand is not the only country doing poorly in Math, Science, Reading, Geography, History or any other subject, except perhaps, playing video games.

I have been involved in course development at two Western universities. The primary trend in both curricula was to lessen the complexity of the assignments. One fully-accredited university's business program chair even suggested a simulation program to replace the research, analysis and writing assignments in the capstone course of their MBA program--a video game in place of a research and development project.

It is strikingly apparent, the Educational Philosophy of the 21^st Century; dumb down the assignments.

For example, math skills are atrocious worldwide. Let’s take a look at the same math problem over the years:

1950’s Math

A vendor has 100 teapots which cost him $5 each. He sells 4/5 of them for a 30% profit each. Without using a slide rule, calculate the percentage between his initial purchase price and his total sales?

1970’s Math

A vendor has 100 teapots which cost him $5 each. He sells 80 of them for a 30% profit each. Without using a calculator, compute his profit over his initial purchase price?

1990’s Math

A vendor has 100 teapots which cost him $5 each. He sells 80 of them for $6.50 each. Has he recovered his investment in teapots; Yes or No?

2010’s Math

A vendor has 100 teapots which cost him $5 each. He sells 80 of them for $6.50 each. Underline the number 80.

You've obviously ben teaching in Thailand for quite a while!

No, I don't teach in Thailand, I am retired.

[rijb]

Thai students don’t have any ‘skin’ in the game. Everything is served/thrown at them by the teacher. Students are not taught to learn for themselves.

“They expect a steady progression along a learning curve, which coincides with the amount of time they spend in classes. … Everything else — their personal struggles to master knowledge and skills in sports, software, games, or music they take to be ‘teaching yourself’ and an inferior way of learning.”

“She Didn’t Teach. We Had to Learn it Ourselves.”

[EnigmaBurn]

These classrooms hardly seem concerned with overcrowding here at Ariya Vichit Pundit School where teachers currently outnumber students and a large class size is 3-4 students at a time.

Of course. And how much is tuition for Ariya Vichit Pundit School, and how many rural villagers in the bottom rungs of the economic ladder could afford to attend?

[...]

Until then, savvy businessmen and businesswomen will make great money supplying the educational needs of the children of the well-to-do, while the those relying on a public education will continue to just get by with a curriculum of rote repetition and memorization of things that have little to do with education in the 21th century.

Connda, I agree and it is a very astute observation you make. Many, or indeed the majority, of Thai families and students do not have the access and opportunity to a school like Ariya Vichit Pundit, nor could they afford to attend most other private schools in Thailand probably. The economic disparity that exists in Thailand, and many other countries including western ones as noted in the comments, makes such opportunity limited. I do not know specifically what the tuition for this private school might be, but that is beside the point as you aptly note - no matter what it is, it is probably cost prohibitive to most.

The point I think is the model the school might offer. Nobody can claim intellectual property rights on a positive educational philosophy, you can't copyright or patent that sort of thing. If it is good, people like it, if it is successful; anyone and any school - public or private - could choose to adopt those philosophies if they work! As the story says and other comments here note, the current public Thai educational system suffers from a tired ideology centered on spoon-feeding basic skills, memorization tasks that are sprinkled with a dash of nationalism. This ignores creativity and the 'thinking outside the box' that modern education needs. If any new, alternative educational ideas are working, no matter the nature of the institution that comes up with them, others can still use it as an example.

Back to the point of Ariya Vichit Pundit School regarding access and opportunity you raise, you are correct that it is not for everyone. You get distinct the impression when speaking with Dr. Patcharis that she understands this and takes it in stride. The school knows they have only a limited number of potential pupils and hopes that the education they are giving the students will translate into creating better business leaders and perhaps even politicians of the future. Dr. Patcharis believes that the educating of the 'whole student' and working to create a, 'Good Human', can potentially result in untold benefits to the Thai community as a whole. That these new leaders would lead with a sound mind and from the heart.

It is ambitious thinking sure, but you can't fault a person for trying. Especially when their heart is in the right place.