New History Textbooks To Teach 'Correct Democracy'
By Khaosod English

BANGKOK — The educational reforms devised by Thailand’s military junta will instill students with a "correct" understanding of democracy, top officials say.

"I am afraid that children understand democracy in an incorrect way because of the events in the country’s recent past," said Gen. Suthat Kanchananonkul, who was appointed to advise the Ministry of Education by the Cabinet last month. "Therefore, I want all the teachers and school administrators to promote correct democracy for the kids."

After seizing power in a coup on 22 May, the junta's National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) ordered an overhaul ofThailand's education system to promote patriotism among Thai youth.

Kamol Rodklai, the secretary-general of the Office of Basic Education Commission (OBEC), said the junta’s revised history textbooks are ready to be used in public schools across the country from 3 November onward.

"There has to be a drastic change in the way history is taught," Kamol said, "It shouldn't focus only on the details of what happened, but also focus on creating a sense of Thainess and patriotism for the children."

Last month, it emerged that the Ministry of Education's new history textbooks failed to mention former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, an extremely influential political figure who backed the government toppled in the 22 May coup.

Full story: http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.php?newsid=1413811048&typecate=06&section=

-- Khaosod English 2014-10-21

Well, in the P5 book social studies book, they have 3 cartoons of a fat falang approaching a Thai family at a restaurant, no money, smelly and asking for funds. Until they remove that, other changes will not happen.

I am sure the history books will explain why coups and military junta are Okay in Thailand.

Nothing better than a non elected gov. To tell you what democracy is.

This will come from the Ministry of Propaganda not the Ministry of Education.

It won't be a ' warts and all ' telling because there are no warts and even if there are, there aren't !

Is the message received Loud and Clear ?

Wacky, post under review. Bit too edgy old boy.

Well, in the P5 book social studies book, they have 3 cartoons of a fat falang approaching a Thai family at a restaurant, no money, smelly and asking for funds. Until they remove that, other changes will not happen.

Yes - i also have seen Xenophobic stuff produced by this system -(prior to Junta )

A daughters friend brought over her school books over whilst we were in Thailand last year.

""Dad look at this "" she asked .

I saw images of western men trying to solve a Car problem.

Both wore Thongs (flip flops) and had singlets on and obese and a beer in their hands -

Looking puzzled , a Thai is then seen fixing the car -

This time the man is neat and looks bright and focused.

The pretty Thai business lady thanks him

Whilst the western men look on with lustful eyes for her and Tongue out.

She tips the Thai man who is seen giving it to the monks at the temple .

A Thai insert says *(translation)

""Service to others is important even silly Farang can learn from Thai examples"

In another there were more westerners and again portrayed as drinking and smoking and lusting after the woman .

A bar girl is seen being asked by a Monk why she mixes with such people?

""I know such people are sinful but i want to help my family she says""

The western men look again leering and evil as well as stupid and smelly .

This was before the Junta so they can't be blamed

Though i can't imagine whats going to be in future publications

Day 0.

Lesson 1. Vote buying.

They've decided now, these generals of the Thai dictatorship, to teach proper and "correct" democracy.

These must be the new history books that have deleted history about Thaksin.

One can only imagine how it portrays true democracy?

I just hope they teach more than just voting!

So the rest of the world is wrong: democracy is about Thainess and patriotism for the children.

In other countries they would call that Nationalism.

Nothing better than a non elected gov. To tell you what democracy is.

I would LIKE your post 100x if the script would allow it.

Too funny for words.... I am sure some sort of bizarre Orwellian Animal Farm

revisionism is on the way. If current text books show fat farangs begging for

money from a Thai family, the mind boggles at what the junta will come up

with. Wait, will that comment cost me my visa ?? :-)

Nothing better than a non elected gov. To tell you what democracy is.

I would LIKE your post 100x if the script would allow it.

I would bet my life there is not a Thai word for hypocrisy....

These must be the new history books that have deleted history about Thaksin.

One can only imagine how it portrays true democracy?

I just hope they teach more than just voting!

I remember watching a interview with a Chinese official who said that China was the only country to get it right as they had the ' purest ' form of democracy since The Party selected all the candidates making sure only the best and most suitable selected. The people could then vote in complete confidence of the most appropriate candidate being selected.

What's the bet that the new lessons project Thai democracy being the only true style and Thainess the only way to live ?

They're going to have to redo the math books, as well, if they wish to explain when 1 (vote) is not equal to one (vote).

Nothing better than a non elected gov. To tell you what democracy is.

I would LIKE your post 100x if the script would allow it.

I would bet my life there is not a Thai word for hypocrisy....

No translation for conflict of interest, either!

"I am afraid that children understand democracy in an incorrect way......"

That's no way to talk about the country's leadership!

Nothing better than a non elected gov. To tell you what democracy is.

I would LIKE your post 100x if the script would allow it.

I would bet my life there is not a Thai word for hypocrisy....

Gaan si sang .... you must die now... but I will commute your sentence to life on earth.

He who controls the past, controls the present. He who controls the present, controls the future.

.......................... George Orwell

Then there are the examples of plagiarism's - perhaps best left unsaid .

But slightly unrelated even music themes are said to be Thai and it is we who copy Thai Music-

When i then showed the western version was the oldest by a few decades - the Thai would simply say it was Thai not Farang -

They are taught "" sayings "" and told they are Thai.

A quick example is a certain unmentioned person phrased the term ""Better than giving a man a fish , give him a rod and teach him how to fish"

Thais are also taught that famous (western ) leaders ask for advice -

Inventions that are western attributed to Thais -

On and On -

Its really sad that a population needs to live out essentially falsehoods to survive in its self assessment

Democracy started with the Greeks before the first Olympics , so that goes back some time , if Thailand thinks that Democracy can be learnt in four easy lessons, think again and democracy is all about challenging ideas , freedom of speech and freedom of the press, Just on those three issues Thailand fails miserably.

"There has to be a drastic change in the way history is taught," Kamol said, "It shouldn't focus only on the details of what happened, but also focus on creating a sense of Thainess and patriotism for the children."

That's not history.

History is all about the details cause and effect. Looking at what happened, why it happened and the consequences.

It is, or should be about the truth (not always done I know).

This approach is nothing but indoctrination.

Will this be the same as the little red book the Chinese used to carry around, the thai version would be green of course.

I'm guessing they will use Japanese pron stars to illustrate how "Thai" democracy should work?

Should be easy, just show a few rich people ( "Good People" ) at the top of the chart, telling the serfs what to do circa 1605; Thai Democracy at its finest.

Is a 'Correct Democracy' a like Thai democracy ?

excerpt:

"We Thais in Thailand are very special and the rest of the world doesn't understand us. The Greeks may have invented democracy but they did not take into account 'Thainess' and how advanced we are"

from the 'you will be happy and vote correctly' section of the new history book

I think the democracy that the Greeks had did not allow women to vote. Also, Ancient Greece had a whole load of slaves, and they weren't allowed to vote as well. So Greece was a place that most of the adults in society did not have the right to vote.

If everybody in Ancient Greece had the right to vote, what would have happened ?

Actually, teaching patriotism to children. Well, this ia actually important. Any nation is surely built on patriotism and pride for the nation, on nationalism. Without this, well, what is the point of being a nation ? You might as well not be a nation.

Happily these people attempting to rewrite the world as it happened are sad old dinosaurs who are blissfully unaware of the internet.