Buddhism being forced upon my half Thai daughter..,.

[EyesWideOpen]

I took my four year old daughter to her school in Pattaya. There was a long

hallway where all the kids were sitting. The loudspeakers were droning along in Thai, and

all the teachers standing in front were doing a wai. Hmmmmm. When
I asked a teacher in front what was going on, I was informed that it was

Buddhism lessons.... This is a pretty nice private school, not a temple school

by the way. :-)

I thought to myself, this is complete crap. I am paying lots of money for

my child to be educated, and instead of performing what I am paying them

for, they take out a half hour a week to try and turn my child into

a Buddhist. I see it as being no different than if they were trying to make

my child believe in Leprechauns. It is always a bad idea to teach the suspension

of rational thought......

Upon speaking with an administrator of the school, I was informed that since

Thailand was a Buddhist country, the school would spend time teaching Buddhism.

A statement I found funny, in that if you actually read the five precepts of

Buddhism, you will realize that Thai people do not really follow any of them.

Not really sure why they consider Thailand to be a Buddhist country.... :-)

I said that was not acceptable. So we reached a compromise where as

I will simply take my daughter to school late on Buddhist mornings thus missing

it, and I will explain to her that there is no Buddha up in the sky carefully noting

who is donating money to the wat, and then carefully dispensing out good luck

to those doing the donating....

If a Thai family moved to America, put their child in an expensive private school, then

the school was trying to turn their child into a Catholic, they would be pissed off.

Edited November 14, 2014 by EyesWideOpen

[steve187]

tit, is she half Thai or does she have dual nationality

[SoiBiker]

So we reached a compromise where as

I will simply take my daughter to school late on Buddhist mornings thus missing

it, and I will explain to her that there is no Buddha up in the sky carefully noting

who is donating money to the wat, and then carefully dispensing out good luck

to those doing the donating....

So what's the problem?

It's entirely reasonable that a child might be taught about buddhism in a buddhist country. Yet they listened to your complaints and took action to appease your concerns.

What exactly is the issue here?

Edited November 14, 2014 by SoiBiker

[EyesWideOpen]

tit, is she half Thai or does she have dual nationality

Dual. Although I am not sure that there is any genetic link

to religion... :-)

[EyesWideOpen]

So we reached a compromise where as

I will simply take my daughter to school late on Buddhist mornings thus missing

it, and I will explain to her that there is no Buddha up in the sky carefully noting

who is donating money to the wat, and then carefully dispensing out good luck

to those doing the donating....

So what's the problem?

It's entirely reasonable that a child might be taught about buddhism in a buddhist country. Yet they listened to your complaints and took action to appease your concerns.

What exactly is the issue here?

A wastage of my daughter's time in school is the issue. Religion has no place in school,

period. Made all the more absurd due to the fact that in Buddhism, there actually is no

big guy in the sky. Rather it is a series of teachings that Thais do not follow in the slightest.

Thus sort of insulting my intelligence.....

Here is the Precepts of Buddhism. Is this the Thailand you know ????

The Five Precepts:

1. I undertake the precept to refrain from destroying living creatures.

2. I undertake the precept to refrain from taking that which is not given.

3. I undertake the precept to refrain from sexual misconduct.

4. I undertake the precept to refrain from incorrect speech.

5. I undertake the precept to refrain from intoxicating drinks and drugs which lead to carelessness.

Edited November 14, 2014 by EyesWideOpen

[SoiBiker]

But they're not 'wasting' her time any more. So what's the problem?

[Mooner]

Could be worse. Could be Christianity

[Thai at Heart]

Buddhism is part of the curriculum in Thai schools.

Would you freak out if your kids did the Xmas nativity, or Easter. It is what it is, and believe me it could be a lot worse.

Just wait till the start "social studies". The bit about rightful hierarchy and sakdina is priceless.

[metisdead]

Off topic posts and replies have been removed.

[EyesWideOpen]

Buddhism is part of the curriculum in Thai schools.

Would you freak out if your kids did the Xmas nativity, or Easter. It is what it is, and believe me it could be a lot worse.

Just wait till the start "social studies". The bit about rightful hierarchy and sakdina is priceless.

As near as I can tell, the Thai " educational" system is designed to keep the lower

class in a condition of permanent ignorance. Not a problem for the wealthy elite,

as they all send their children abroad for a real education. And as you say,

sort of a result of the feudal system of sakdina. And religion in the form of

Buddhism is a part of the process to make the peasants happy with their

lot in life. Meaning the concept of reincarnation. Yeah as a peasant you have

a crappy life now, but just put up with it, and you will come back as something else

that is much better.

No, I have no intention of allowing the school system here to put mindless

tripe in the head of my daughter. So I am planning on going back to America

within the next couple of years so she can receive a real education, and

attend a real university. And then go onto to a real job. The income of Thai

university graduates here is so low as to be astonishing. Many of my friends

here with children are making the same choice. Thailand was fun as a single

man, but no place to raise a child......

[apetley]

I used to enjoy religious instruction at my old school. My old reacher and I had some very interesting discussions in class. Made me see what a heap of crap it was and turned me into a lifelong atheist.

[cooked]

Buddhism is part of the curriculum in Thai schools.

Would you freak out if your kids did the Xmas nativity, or Easter. It is what it is, and believe me it could be a lot worse.

Just wait till the start "social studies". The bit about rightful hierarchy and sakdina is priceless.

As near as I can tell, the Thai " educational" system is designed to keep the lower

class in a condition of permanent ignorance. Not a problem for the wealthy elite,

as they all send their children abroad for a real education. And as you say,

sort of a result of the feudal system of sakdina. And religion in the form of

Buddhism is a part of the process to make the peasants happy with their

lot in life. Meaning the concept of reincarnation. Yeah as a peasant you have

a crappy life now, but just put up with it, and you will come back as something else

that is much better.

No, I have no intention of allowing the school system here to put mindless

tripe in the head of my daughter. So I am planning on going back to America

within the next couple of years so she can receive a real education, and

attend a real university. And then go onto to a real job. The income of Thai

university graduates here is so low as to be astonishing. Many of my friends

here with children are making the same choice. Thailand was fun as a single

man, but no place to raise a child......

I don't believe that 'the Thai " educational" system is designed to keep the lower class in a condition of permanent ignorance.' That would demand foresight and planning. It just turned out that way due to the general mentality of Thailand. No reason for them to change it. I have always thought that a country gets the religion, political system and state of well being that it deserves.

[EmptyHead]

Education is crap in the west too.

Take a look at these videos

I think Thailand is a good for place of kids and adults to live a happy life.

Edited November 15, 2014 by EmptyHead

[AnotherOneAmerican]

Usually the schools devote about 3 days of the week to Buddhist related activities.

30 minutes would be unlikely.

PS

Thinking a 4 year old should not be in a Thai school.

Edited November 15, 2014 by AnotherOneAmerican

[Briggsy]

Thai education is behaviour based.

Western education is competency based.

The result is Thai schoolchildren spend a lot of time focussing on how to conduct themselves and their relationships with others. They tend to be poor in measurable competencies, such as arithmetic, problem solving, foreign languages, etc.

[slipperylobster]

First question would be...why are you trying to change "their system". Not really a thing to do with you at all.

I did not bother to look it up, but it seems logical enough to see Buddhism as being the National Religion. So that brings everything into play. In Schools, Government Buildings, Hospitals, Roadside Stops, In front of houses. How do you think you are going to isolate her?

Even in the Philippines, it was impossible to keep my son from being indoctrinated in The Christian Beliefs (Catholic). I really did not mind....

Should believe something. You don't want kids growing up with a vacuum in their head.

Edited November 15, 2014 by slipperylobster

[Langsuan Man]

I am sorry but I really don't understand the OP problem. He moved to a Buddhist country and had a child and is now expressing surprise that she is being exposed to Buddhism


Move back to your home country and you won't have this problem

[EyesWideOpen]

Usually the schools devote about 3 days of the week to Buddhist related activities.

30 minutes would be unlikely.

PS

Thinking a 4 year old should not be in a Thai school.

I can only go by what I was told by the administrator at the school. She told me

that Buddhist teaching was 30 minutes on Friday morning from 8:00 to 8:30. I am

not a party to what exactly happens during the course of the day, so perhaps a

farang teacher here could chip in to this thread with a better idea of what actually

happens during the course of the school day....

[EyesWideOpen]

I am sorry but I really don't understand the OP problem. He moved to a Buddhist country and had a child and is now expressing surprise that she is being exposed to Buddhism

Move back to your home country and you won't have this problem

So if a Thai family moved to America , and they found out their child was

being indoctrinated into Christianity at school, you would advise them to

move back to Thailand ?? Nice one......

[EyesWideOpen]

First question would be...why are you trying to change "their system". Not really a thing to do with you at all.

I did not bother to look it up, but it seems logical enough to see Buddhism as being the National Religion. So that brings everything into play. In Schools, Government Buildings, Hospitals, Roadside Stops, In front of houses. How do you think you are going to isolate her?

Even in the Philippines, it was impossible to keep my son from being indoctrinated in The Christian Beliefs (Catholic). I really did not mind....

Should believe something. You don't want kids growing up with a vacuum in their head.

What the bleep ?? It is exactly opposite to what you believe. Religious people

have rational thought processes taken away from them. This is mandatory ,

otherwise how can you get a child to believe in something that is not real ?

http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/mr-personality/201312/why-are-religious-people-generally-less-intelligent

"Intelligent people are generally more analytical and data-driven; formal religions are the antithesis: they are empirically fluffy and their claims are often in direct contradiction with scientific evidence, unless they are interpreted metaphorically – but maybe intelligent people are not that keen on metaphor. Another way of putting it is that people with a high IQ are more likely to have faith in science, which isn’t religion’s best friends (yes, yes, I do know about Einstein’s quotes)."

[Petchou]

When it comes to religion most people "do not make a choice", exposure to different religions and or spiritualities is in my opinion the way to go, that people can make an informed choice.

[EyesWideOpen]

Education is crap in the west too.

Take a look at these videos

I think Thailand is a good for place of kids and adults to live a happy life.

I love TED talks !!!!!!!!!! I have seen this one before, but thanks for posting it.

The western paradigm for education certainly has some flaws in it, but it is

still miles ahead of the Thailand version. The most critical process a child can

learn is to question everything, and to use critical thought. That is what is missing

here. Schools here seem to be in four levels.

1. The bottom rung, temple schools. Free, but I suspect a lot of time is spent

learning Buddhism.... :-)

2. Public schools. Pretty cheap, but I have read some real horror reports of

what goes on there from farang teachers.

3. Mid level private schools, which is a kind of middle ground between

the public schools and high end private schools. This is where my child goes.

4. Then the final level is the high end private schools. Taught entirely in English,

and they have in essence a western school curriculum. This is for well off

people terrified of public schools. At Regent school here in Pattaya, the price

is 840,000 baht for a year. Putting it a bit beyond the reach of the average

Thai person..... :-)

[EyesWideOpen]

When it comes to religion most people "do not make a choice", exposure to different religions and or spiritualities is in my opinion the way to go, that people can make an informed choice.

Agree 100 %. When you are ramming religion down the throat of a small

child who believes everything you say, that is simply a form of child abuse.

If you were a Neo Nazi, and you told your child everyday that Hitler was a

great man, that is what you would grow up to believe. So I say never ever

use the word religion, and wait until your child is 15 years old, and has full

reasoning powers. Then spell out religion for him. He will either burst out

laughing, or say that is great. But at least he made a choice with full knowledge.

Religion is irrational, so it MUST be taught at an early age to children who

are unable to defend against it.....

[WilliamCave]

My kids I have shown them different religions and the choice is there's what they want to be or not be.

As it stands now my kids dont care for Buddhism .

I can't say on here why except my son tells me they say one thing do another

He tells me every thing that goes on. In these classes and he does not like them

I am happy he has his own mind to make his own educated choice , I know the teachers don't like my son attitude

Because he questions them on many things. And in Thai schools seems u are not allowed to be a free thinker or have your own opinion .

[Langsuan Man]

I am sorry but I really don't understand the OP problem. He moved to a Buddhist country and had a child and is now expressing surprise that she is being exposed to Buddhism

Move back to your home country and you won't have this problem

So if a Thai family moved to America , and they found out their child was

being indoctrinated into Christianity at school, you would advise them to

move back to Thailand ?? Nice one......

No, I would advise them to put their child into a different school. I sure wouldn't expect the school to change just because my Thai child was enrolled. So too you shouldn't expect a whole country to change just because you moved here.

[EyesWideOpen]

I am sorry but I really don't understand the OP problem. He moved to a Buddhist country and had a child and is now expressing surprise that she is being exposed to Buddhism

Move back to your home country and you won't have this problem

So if a Thai family moved to America , and they found out their child was

being indoctrinated into Christianity at school, you would advise them to

move back to Thailand ?? Nice one......

No, I would advise them to put their child into a different school. I sure wouldn't expect the school to change just because my Thai child was enrolled. So too you shouldn't expect a whole country to change just because you moved here.

I do not expect the country to change for me. All I can do is attempt to limit her exposure

to a belief system she is too young to challenge or understand. So I will take her late to

school to avoid the intense Buddha half hour, and later on explain to her that there is not

a big guy in the sky keeping track of your donations at the temple and dispensing luck.

I have already explained to her that there are no ghosts, so this matter should be equally easy....

[SoiBiker]

Have you told her Santa doesn't exist, too?

[EyesWideOpen]

Have you told her Santa doesn't exist, too?

Not yet. She does not know there is a Santa, so for now there is

no burden upon me to disprove him..... :-)

[BuddhistVirus]

EyesWideOpen, MindTightlyShut

[EyesWideOpen]

EyesWideOpen, MindTightlyShut

Disagree. Believing in what is not real, is to deny the rational power of

the mind. If you wish to believe in gods, leprechauns, ghosts, and aliens,

that is your choice. I personally will stick to what is real, which is a much

better bet... :-) But stick to whatever works for you.....