New history textbooks to teach 'correct democracy'

[icare999]

You may be sure that I will ensure my son properly understands democracy in all its forms, and with all its inconsistencies; the essence of factual history; and the importance of making up of his own mind in regard to national cultures, in all forms ...

if you can and i hope you can but if you cant or are not there for whatever reason only hope is proper education which here is a good international school. I was always against private education but have totally changed my mind not only for here but also in UK. Here almost all this state schools are pathetic in UK it depends where you live and their are many many state schools in UK IMO which are worse than even some of worse ones here

[ScubaPhuket]

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

I've seen those kind of stories before. The one I saw from 3 years ago was warning Thai school children about the dangers of meeting farang online and was Thai reading material for Pratom 5 students given out in class. I think Pratom 5 translates to roughly 10 year-old primary school children.

The following are a few pictures from the book. The picture of the farang is not too complimentary

The story accompanying the pictures went something like this. A couple of young Thai girls meet and chat with a farang online who describes himself as young and handsome so they decide to meet him in Bangkok.

However on meeting up as arranged he turns out to be a 'fat old pot-bellied farang' who's used someone else's photo while chatting to them on the internet. The girls are too embarrassed to leave and he tells them he wants to go try some delicious Thai food. They take him to a restaurant but when it's time to pay he checks his wallet and tells them he's lost his money. The girls end up having to scrape the money together to pay for the meal which they only just manage to do between them. When one of the girls goes to the toilet one of the staff informs her that the farang doesn't live abroad at all but is actually resident in Pattaya and pulls this scam often. The story finishes by warning it was lucky the girls didn't go alone or much worse could have happened.

Download link to scan of story in pdf format:

http://www.filedropper.com/faranginbook

same as we warned our kids about Thai men in fact not Thai men we said men of any race or woman. Its quite fair to use bad image of many forang here as basically scum bags to warn in particular school girls of dangers of being seduced by nasty forang men. They already know dangers of many this men but like most believe all forang are rich many are totally unaware of some forang also pose very high risks

I for one have never seen these cartoons & they explain a lot about the innate thai view towards white people. This country really does look like North Korea more every day & the education ministry should be ashamed of themselves, this is institutionalised racism.

I'd be very interested in seeing more if anyone wants to scan some of their kids books or post some links to internet based material.

Edited October 21, 2014 by ScubaPhuket

[beautifulthailand99]

It'sa bit more sophisticated the grab for power in the west but the principles remain pretty much the same. George Carlin has a wonderful take on democracy.

http://youtu.be/1i43km8XTqQ

[Fatty123]

You need textbooks for democracy?

Here's an idea. Let people form thier own parties. Even let them become independent candidates if they want. Let them form their own policies in the hope that people like their proposals the best. Whoever gets the most votes wins and gets the chance to govern for four or five years until the next vote. Make sure the elected party (ie government) control the military and other agencies and not the other way around). After all, the people have chosen their leaders.

**Note to Thailand.

It is normal for elected governments to lose thier popularity around mid term.It does not always require a new election or a coup. And guess what?

If they do a shi>>y job, the people can vote them out. It's pretty mad stuff, I know.

[Fatty123]

Utter ludicrous to think that the citizens are so naive to believe what the junta text book content. We don't live in the dark ages where the only reading material is the text book and the radio. The more the junta try to brainwash and impose their ideology, we will see more people start to lose faith in the government. We see more media considered as pro establishment warning things can go awry for this government if they take a bias approach to reform, stifle freedom of expression and force feed their brand of ideology. The backlash will come from the next election.

All the Thais in favour of democracy as we know it (plus all those red shirt parents) wlll be annoyed/furious at the propoganda being shoved down their kids' throats. Honestly, I think Thais are not daft and know that they're having propoganda thrust upon them.

Only a guess, but I reckon that there must be a simmering tension among many Thais feeling disenfranchised. Trying to indoctrinate their kids to love the Junta's re-writing of history/democracy may be the tipping point for many. Remember, most Thais can't just leave for another nation (and why should they?)

I'm actually very worried for Thailand and the Thai people whom I have a lot of time for. The next 10 years may prove absolutely crucial. They'll either be Burma circa 2005 MKII or something much better. I can't see anything inbetween.

[iainiain101]

I was told by the teacher that my 7 year old needed to improve her Thai history.

I went to Asia books and asked for a Thai history book, preferably for kids in English. They looked, and had history books for Burma, England and many more countries but not ThaiIand. I asked if they had one in Thai and they said go to B2S for Thai books. I asked if one of them could show me the books there, so they came with me and asked in Thai for a history book. The answer was that they don't sell them.

So where do you even find these history books?

Edited October 21, 2014 by iainiain101

[Thanet]

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.

Well said.

Teaching Patriotism involves teaching reality. Some thing the school system has been ignoring. Also many posters are ignoring and some out right opposed to it.

But what is being taught? Patriotism or jingoism?

[thedivezone]

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.

Could someone post some of these cartoons? I'd really like to see them...

Look nine posts above yours !

[EyesWideOpen]

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

I've seen those kind of stories before. The one I saw from 3 years ago was warning Thai school children about the dangers of meeting farang online and was Thai reading material for Pratom 5 students given out in class. I think Pratom 5 translates to roughly 10 year-old primary school children.

The following are a few pictures from the book. The picture of the farang is not too complimentary

The story accompanying the pictures went something like this. A couple of young Thai girls meet and chat with a farang online who describes himself as young and handsome so they decide to meet him in Bangkok.

However on meeting up as arranged he turns out to be a 'fat old pot-bellied farang' who's used someone else's photo while chatting to them on the internet. The girls are too embarrassed to leave and he tells them he wants to go try some delicious Thai food. They take him to a restaurant but when it's time to pay he checks his wallet and tells them he's lost his money. The girls end up having to scrape the money together to pay for the meal which they only just manage to do between them. When one of the girls goes to the toilet one of the staff informs her that the farang doesn't live abroad at all but is actually resident in Pattaya and pulls this scam often. The story finishes by warning it was lucky the girls didn't go alone or much worse could have happened.

Download link to scan of story in pdf format:

http://www.filedropper.com/faranginbook

same as we warned our kids about Thai men in fact not Thai men we said men of any race or woman. Its quite fair to use bad image of many forang here as basically scum bags to warn in particular school girls of dangers of being seduced by nasty forang men. They already know dangers of many this men but like most believe all forang are rich many are totally unaware of some forang also pose very high risks

So conversely in western schools young boys should be taught about the dangers of Thai girls fleecing them out of their money ??? The mind absolutely boggles at this level of stupidity. For a nation obsessed with face, they sure seem to lose it easily... :-)

Besides the really funny part of this story that is implied is that young

Thai girls want to hook up online with a rich farang. Guess the writer of

this piece did not really think things through.. And no, my daughter will never ever attend a Thai school if this is the crap they teach. No wonder the vast majority of Thais cannot use the process of critical thought...

In a way I almost feel sorry for them.....

Edited October 22, 2014 by EyesWideOpen

[Eric Loh]

Utter ludicrous to think that the citizens are so naive to believe what the junta text book content. We don't live in the dark ages where the only reading material is the text book and the radio. The more the junta try to brainwash and impose their ideology, we will see more people start to lose faith in the government. We see more media considered as pro establishment warning things can go awry for this government if they take a bias approach to reform, stifle freedom of expression and force feed their brand of ideology. The backlash will come from the next election.

All the Thais in favour of democracy as we know it (plus all those red shirt parents) wlll be annoyed/furious at the propoganda being shoved down their kids' throats. Honestly, I think Thais are not daft and know that they're having propoganda thrust upon them.

Only a guess, but I reckon that there must be a simmering tension among many Thais feeling disenfranchised. Trying to indoctrinate their kids to love the Junta's re-writing of history/democracy may be the tipping point for many. Remember, most Thais can't just leave for another nation (and why should they?)

I'm actually very worried for Thailand and the Thai people whom I have a lot of time for. The next 10 years may prove absolutely crucial. They'll either be Burma circa 2005 MKII or something much better. I can't see anything inbetween.

Some segment of the population may think that others are daft and really don't understand politics. This are the lot that continue to be in denial and couldn't confront the reality that Thais are much more smarter and intelligent in making political decision. They can see the establishment effort to impose their superiority over them by robbing their mandate, change the rules and force feed them with propaganda; twice.

Today Nation carries a very good article on the PM in a fortified situation. He has told his international audience on the time table for restoring democracy. He will have to bear the international reponse if he delay the election and answerable to his people here. You don't need to wait next 10 years to be worried, just wait for 12 months to know if Thailand is heading to the abyss or not.

[MaxYakov]

Announcement: A Goggle search for the word "Thainessism" returned:

Your search - Thainessism - did not match any documents.

[MaxYakov]

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

I've seen those kind of stories before. The one I saw from 3 years ago was warning Thai school children about the dangers of meeting farang online and was Thai reading material for Pratom 5 students given out in class. I think Pratom 5 translates to roughly 10 year-old primary school children.

The following are a few pictures from the book. The picture of the farang is not too complimentary

The story accompanying the pictures went something like this. A couple of young Thai girls meet and chat with a farang online who describes himself as young and handsome so they decide to meet him in Bangkok.

However on meeting up as arranged he turns out to be a 'fat old pot-bellied farang' who's used someone else's photo while chatting to them on the internet. The girls are too embarrassed to leave and he tells them he wants to go try some delicious Thai food. They take him to a restaurant but when it's time to pay he checks his wallet and tells them he's lost his money. The girls end up having to scrape the money together to pay for the meal which they only just manage to do between them. When one of the girls goes to the toilet one of the staff informs her that the farang doesn't live abroad at all but is actually resident in Pattaya and pulls this scam often. The story finishes by warning it was lucky the girls didn't go alone or much worse could have happened.

Download link to scan of story in pdf format:

http://www.filedropper.com/faranginbook

A question to the authors:

The motive for the girls' meeting a 'young and handsome' farang for dinner would have been ...?

(Hint: it wouldn't have been to even partially pay for the dinner, obviously, If you get my drift and I think you do).

I, long ago, began identifying myself to Thai women as "ATM". Not one of them has realized the implicit insult to them of using that name (and I don't expect them to).

Edited October 22, 2014 by MaxYakov

[pasak]

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

Much of this is quite close to the truth actually though of course the Thais are secretly far sleazier.

[thaiguzzi]

Insular. Xenaphobic. Racist. Elitist. Not only history, but geography are not taught at all well over here. Kids don't know where anywhere outside SE Asia is. They don't know about WW II or the Vietnam war, or genocide in Cambodia. Seriously sad state of affairs. One of the many reasons i'm thinking of going back to the UK after 11 wonderful years here, is for my 9 year old son. I've got to the point i want him growing up as an English boy with a Thai mother, rather than a Thai boy with a Felang dad.

Well I am old now so I can't say much on what they teach in schools in the west now. Even my kids are getting on in years.

When I was in school they didn't teach much about the East. Just that it was there. As for history they taught nothing. I applaud your decision to take your son back to the cold Brittan for an education. But I doubt he will learn much of the East in his history. Certainly learn about the evil of Hitler. I have several friends with plans to return home strictly for the reason to give their kids a better education.

Let us hope that Thailand is finally on the road to a real education. The signs look good. So far.

a lot of english education is also total crap unless you live in a good area same as while a lot of UK national health service is fantastic much is awful Personally i would dread having to live and educate kids here or in UK equally if one did not have very significant income or funds.

It's not just about education. Far from it. It's being street - wise. Being worldly - wise. I know a couple of self made millionares in England, both of whom left school at 15, and one still can hardly write, and just read. I left school as quickly as i could, i had my own business by the time i was 28, and never worked for someone else again. I want him to travel when he grows up. See the world, other cultures, do all the good things in life. When my father dies and my son reaches the age of 21, he will be rather wealthy for a young man from a trust fund. I just think he will have a far better chance of life having grown up English rather than Thai. Especially if he wants to blow £20-25k per year for 2-3 years seeing the world.