Thinking critically about democracy and education reform in Thailand

[webfact]

Thinking critically about democracy and education reform in Thailand
By Valerie Strauss
The Washington Post

Critical thinking is seen, of course, as an essential skill for college and careers — but it is also essential in a healthy democracy. Here is a post about the Kingdom of Thailand, a country that straddles monarchy and democracy and where educators and politicians are grappling with how critical thinking should be taught in schools. Here’s a post on this issue by Tanika Panyarachun, a Thai school guidance counselor, and Jessica Lander, an American educator who taught at a Thai University. Both are recent graduates of the Harvard Graduate School of Education.

By Tanika Panyarachun and Jessica Lander

WASHINGTON: -- When Thailand’s Armed Forces took over the country in 2014, military authorities declared that they would establish key reforms to ensure successful democracy — and the new government highlighted the need for educational reform. But any government that wants to lay a strong foundation for democracy should embrace education reforms that celebrate inquiry and ingenuity.

The military government created a list of “12 National Values,” and since last October has required that every student recite the values at the start of their school day.

Critical thinking is conspicuously absent from the list. Instead, the values promote order, respect and honor of authority, discipline of body and mind, economic modesty, and selflessness.

Full story: https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/wp/2015/07/30/thinking-critically-about-democracy-and-education-reform-in-thailand/

-- The Washington Post 2015-07-31

[EricBerg]

This topic is starting t look like a perpetuum mobilae..much blabla but nothing changes.

Critical thinking about tabets, subs purchase plans, rice schemes and many many more is non existing in the Kingdom.

[NongKhaiKid]

Just starting to think first would be a start.

Look at the fiasco over the alcohol ban near schools, in 3 days there were 2 conflicting orders and a misunderstanding.

Critical thinking ?

[noitom]

There is no critical thinking in Thailand.

[bamnutsak]

"Critical thinking" is pretty much against the law here, and would shake the very foundation of Thai society to the ground were it to be encouraged. This would be the last thing the ruling entities would want here, save for a few members of the aristocracy (so send them to Cambridge, MA).

Not surprising it's not included as one of the "twelve values".

Anyway, I thought the "education reforms" were already instituted with the free showings of the "historical" film, "King Naresuan 6"

[sandbox]

The difficulty is that developing critical thinking throughout education includes the student challenging the teacher/system and that is an anathema to Thai values.

Most of the time when I see the words 'respect' and 'honour' in descriptions of desirable Thai behaviour I think 'deference' and 'conformity'.

A society that inculcates the constant affirmation of status through the use of words like 'order, discipline' and the sentiments of deference, obedience and conformity is not likely to encourage critical thinking.

A natural conclusion of critical thought is often making choices and, for time being at least, that has largely been suspended in Thailand.

Edited July 31, 2015 by sandbox

[selftaopath]

Just starting to think first would be a start.

Look at the fiasco over the alcohol ban near schools, in 3 days there were 2 conflicting orders and a misunderstanding.

Critical thinking ?

Oh how I agree Kid. I ask myself repeatedly if Thais know how to THINK..... it appears to me - daily - that they really appear NOT to think at all. I suppose the culture and lack of bonafide education could "dumb down" anyone's brain. But yet another way for the rich and powerful to keep status quo.

[NongKhaiKid]

Just starting to think first would be a start.

Look at the fiasco over the alcohol ban near schools, in 3 days there were 2 conflicting orders and a misunderstanding.

Critical thinking ?

Oh how I agree Kid. I ask myself repeatedly if Thais know how to THINK..... it appears to me - daily - that they really appear NOT to think at all. I suppose the culture and lack of bonafide education could "dumb down" anyone's brain. But yet another way for the rich and powerful to keep status quo.

Spot On and both sad and frightening.

[KarenBravo]

Teach critical thinking to the masses?

That's the last thing the ruling elite want.

[quandow]

"Thailand" and "critical thinking" don't belong together.

[Lupatria]

I stopped reading right after this: "Critical thinking is seen, of course, as an essential skill for college and careers"

Pretty funny as long as students are not allowed to ask questions in class...

[Red Queen]

"Thailand" and "critical thinking" don't belong together.

Only because they've never been taught - and that's been deliberate imho. Thais have the same brains we all have, they're just never taught to use them for anything other than regurgitating what they're told. And we can still see that approach being applied today, in the 21st Century. Amazing really.

[gandalf12]

Criticism is not welcomed even on TV they dont like it. Everything must be saying how wonderful everything is. This gives no room to improvement

[djjamie]

Critical thinking is a powerful tool in the arsenal of the educated. Populist, corrode "elected" govt hate it as it enables people to think for themselves rather than depending solely on authority figures. Critical thinking is a way of analyzing an issue in a more logical and reasoned way. It is this skill that will assist citizens to make wise and humane decisions when faced with a host of competing solutions to a community problem. It is not uncommon in community discussions to have a mixture of fact and fiction, logic and illogic. In fact the last govt specialised in the later. Look no further than Thailand pre May 2014 to see the fiction and illogical reasoning and how it is not challenged, but simply accepted by the uneducated. Illogical thinking is believing that terrorism committed with impunity in the capital city has a stabilising effect on the economy (never mind all economic indicators plummeting). In an educated society Suropong would never dare tell the citizens to ignore export figures and other facts because they prove him to be a liar. Plodprasop would never dare tell the citizens they are garbage. yinglcuk would not dare tell the citizens they are imagining inflation due to the hot weather. When the citizens are uneducated though they simply accept it, don't question it and don't challenge this authority. They are held in contempt and they accept it. That is not a democracy.

Democracy is realising there is a problem with this scenario and going about rectifying it. Education reform is a step in the right direction.

"​Attitude adjustment" was the wrong description that Prayut uses for the people that have negative corrosive, destabilising reasoning. I see it as "critical thinking" adjustment. Through education people will understand. Without it they will think terrorism improves economies and the day it stopped they will argue the economy started to go downhill. Why? They rely and accept a narrative for authority figures without actually thinking about the illogical statement they are making.

Edited July 31, 2015 by djjamie

[Charlie Croker]

Lots of comments about Thai values being antithetical to encompass critical thinking skills.

Perhaps traditional hierarchy across Thai society, respect of elders and managers are less than conducive to best outcomes.

Rather than being misguided though, I believe these ideals are anachronistic. Right now Thailand wants to participate and enjoy success in modern economies, but is unable to embrace fully the attitudinal change required to achieve that ambition.

Japan might be a good model to look at. In order to succeed in ever modernising industrial environments, they needed to shake off their feudalistic tendencies.

Even now western business models are changing to become increasingly effective. Thailand needs to keep up or accept they will fall behind their competition.

[Laughing Gravy]

I have to say I have been haring the same message about critial thinking ofr 15 years. since then no progress and in many respects it has gone backwards. It would need a really radical approach. Start deom scratch. Get rid of the principle of teaching here, the route learning method nd listen to wat I say atitude. Instigate ritical thinking in education policy, schools, universities and at grass root levels. Get rid of the sa bai, sa bai attitude from the culture that is ingrained and get people to constantly strive to do better and think for themsleves. Then just maybe you will have critical thinking across all levels of society.

If not, then I can't see it changing in my life time. Sadly it seems a phrase that writers and those who appear to show reform, toss around all the time. Personally I am sick of hearing words and would like real action, to the issue.

[ramrod711]

Critical thinking is conspicuously absent from the list. Instead, the values promote order, respect and honor of authority, discipline of body and mind, economic modesty, and selflessness.

The way the economy is going promoting "economic modesty" isn't going to be necessary.

[bamnutsak]

The way the economy is going promoting "economic modesty" isn't going to be necessary.

This is #10 on Field Marshall Prayut's top 12 "Core Values", aka The Sufficiency Economy, where the serfs should be happy just eeking out an existence.

A Sufficiency Democracy (the bare minimum with the illusion of "civic empowerment"), and a Sufficiency Education system (rote learning, pass everyone, careful not to teach "history") round out the goals of the Regime to keep the masses dumbed down, and "happy" in the fields.

[phoenixdoglover]

Critical thinking is a powerful tool... "elected" govt hate it ...the last govt ..Thailand pre May 2014 ...Suropong would never dare ...Plodprasop would never dare ...yinglcuk would not dare tell ...That is not a democracy....Democracy is realising there is a problem with this scenario and going about rectifying it. ...

"​Attitude adjustment" was the wrong description that Prayut uses..I see it as "critical thinking" adjustment. ...

Critical thinking might view the critical thinking challenges in Thailand as perhaps arising from a wider and longer lasting set of conditions.

But no. When all you have is a hammer, every lousy topic looks like a nail.

or

Edited July 31, 2015 by phoenixdoglover

[Thai at Heart]

Criticism is the reserve of the gilded few. 99.9% of the Thai population has been cowed into 'put up and shut up'

[Thai at Heart]

"Thailand" and "critical thinking" don't belong together.

Only because they've never been taught - and that's been deliberate imho. Thais have the same brains we all have, they're just never taught to use them for anything other than regurgitating what they're told. And we can still see that approach being applied today, in the 21st Century. Amazing really.

One isn't taught critical thought. It is either allowed or not. In Thailand it largely isn't allowed.

[Red Queen]

This topic is starting t look like a perpetuum mobilae..much blabla but nothing changes.

Critical thinking about tabets, subs purchase plans, rice schemes and many many more is non existing in the Kingdom.

You're right of course, but in Thailand, what counts is coming up with and shouting loudly about grandiose initiatives, not actually executing them.

That's not the Thai way unless it involves more money for the military and/or more opportunities for corruption in government.

[ramrod711]

The way the economy is going promoting "economic modesty" isn't going to be necessary.

This is #10 on Field Marshall Prayut's top 12 "Core Values", aka The Sufficiency Economy, where the serfs should be happy just eeking out an existence.

A Sufficiency Democracy (the bare minimum with the illusion of "civic empowerment"), and a Sufficiency Education system (rote learning, pass everyone, careful not to teach "history") round out the goals of the Regime to keep the masses dumbed down, and "happy" in the fields.

You might want to be a little discreet when discussing The Sufficiency Economy, it wasn't his idea.

[DM07]

Critical thinking is a powerful tool in the arsenal of the educated. Populist, corrode "elected" govt hate it as it enables people to think for themselves rather than depending solely on authority figures. Critical thinking is a way of analyzing an issue in a more logical and reasoned way. It is this skill that will assist citizens to make wise and humane decisions when faced with a host of competing solutions to a community problem. It is not uncommon in community discussions to have a mixture of fact and fiction, logic and illogic. In fact the last govt specialised in the later. Look no further than Thailand pre May 2014 to see the fiction and illogical reasoning and how it is not challenged, but simply accepted by the uneducated. Illogical thinking is believing that terrorism committed with impunity in the capital city has a stabilising effect on the economy (never mind all economic indicators plummeting). In an educated society Suropong would never dare tell the citizens to ignore export figures and other facts because they prove him to be a liar. Plodprasop would never dare tell the citizens they are garbage. yinglcuk would not dare tell the citizens they are imagining inflation due to the hot weather. When the citizens are uneducated though they simply accept it, don't question it and don't challenge this authority. They are held in contempt and they accept it. That is not a democracy.

Democracy is realising there is a problem with this scenario and going about rectifying it. Education reform is a step in the right direction.

"​Attitude adjustment" was the wrong description that Prayut uses for the people that have negative corrosive, destabilising reasoning. I see it as "critical thinking" adjustment. Through education people will understand. Without it they will think terrorism improves economies and the day it stopped they will argue the economy started to go downhill. Why? They rely and accept a narrative for authority figures without actually thinking about the illogical statement they are making.

"​Attitude adjustment" was the wrong description that Prayut uses for the people that have negative corrosive, destabilising reasoning. I see it as "critical thinking" adjustment."

...and I thought, there was no alcohol on sell, today!

[lostoday]

The way the economy is going promoting "economic modesty" isn't going to be necessary.

This is #10 on Field Marshall Prayut's top 12 "Core Values", aka The Sufficiency Economy, where the serfs should be happy just eeking out an existence.

A Sufficiency Democracy (the bare minimum with the illusion of "civic empowerment"), and a Sufficiency Education system (rote learning, pass everyone, careful not to teach "history") round out the goals of the Regime to keep the masses dumbed down, and "happy" in the fields.

You might want to be a little discreet when discussing The Sufficiency Economy, it wasn't his idea.

http://www.polyarchy.org/enough/texts/keynes.1933.html

It was John Maynard Keynes a famous British Economist in 1933 I believe.

National self-sufficiency

Edited July 31, 2015 by lostoday

[lildragon]

Wait a minute. Did Jamie actually just come in here and do his (customary) 'turn into a Thaksin' thread and then try and say that Prayuth....Prayuth! Is some sort of bastion of critical thinking? And rename his attitude adjustments to critical thinking adjustments?

The man who locks up students for daring to go against him and wants to extradite people for less majeste is more progressive than the old administration eh? LOL what a good laugh I got reading that.