Kids in school?

[KhunBN]

Anyone has kids enrolled in schools in part of Isaan (more specifically for ages 5-12)? What are your thoughts about the schools in this region.

 

I've seen kids with dyed hairs walking around, kids as young as 5...where do you think this issue stems from? School or Home? I know there are restrictions/rules and dress codes for school...but why is this still a problem? I also know a kindergarten with teachers encouraging kids to bring money to school as the teachers themselves want to make a quick, small buck by selling snacks in class.

 

Edited July 5, 2017 by KhunBN

[Lamkyong]

why do you define this as a  problem ??

[KhunBN]

5 minutes ago, Lamkyong said:

why do you define this as a  problem ??

 

No offence but due to different cultural background I guess. Do you see children as young as 4-5 with dyed hairs etc. as appropriate?

 

Schools should inculcate discipline with neat haircuts, ironed uniform, fingernails trimmed etc. Overall to look smart as they are the walking embodiment of the schools they are in. Furthermore, I believe there is government regulation on coloured hairs since 1970s.

 

Edited July 5, 2017 by KhunBN

[Lamkyong]

not really an answer    i was interested in your dislike    does not involve my thoughts on the subject

[KhunBN]

7 minutes ago, Lamkyong said:

not really an answer    i was interested in your dislike    does not involve my thoughts on the subject

 

Simply put, I find it worrying for the future generations.

 

[ubonjoe]

16 hours ago, KhunBN said:

I've seen kids with dyed hairs walking around, kids as young as 5...where do you think this issue stems from? School or Home?

Home

I have seen your kids with dyed hair at during Songkran but that was a while back.

It would be allowed where my kids go to school (private not public).

[plachon]

Many schools spend all their time enforcing petty uniform regulations and hair length codes (not sure about dyed hair regs) at the expense of educational content. If the teachers spent less time telling kids what they should wear and how long/short their shorts/skirts/hair etc should be, and more time concentrating on actual teaching and encouraging critical minds amongst the kids, then the educational outcomes and life skills in general would be far better, IMHO.

[sinbin]

My kids go to a Catholic run private school. I hate the school but it seems to be the best in the area so my missus has the final say. The school is just a front to make money, which it does in a few ways. As I say its a Catholic school but Christmas Day is a normal school day. I'm confused. I can't figure that out. They can have an unannounced days holiday if the teachers have a meeting but Xmas Day??? 

The complete set up is a money making scam. They seem to do nothing for the children they look after, other than take their money. Instead of teaching the kids about healthy eating, as an example, they do the opposite, and have nothing but unhealthy food on sale during break times. Three break-times, 800+ pupils, 20-30 Baht per break per day, no competition. They couldn't really give two hoots as to physical well being of the kids. But I see this as being across the board in Thai schools. Over weight kids everywhere. I could go on but...................

They do not allow dyed hair even during the Songkran build up, or afterwards. Right carry on.

 

 

Edited July 6, 2017 by sinbin

[bbi1]

The problem comes from too many Farangs in Thailand and on tv so Thai ppl wanna be like them and dye their hair brown instead of keeping it the natural black colour.

[MrPatrickThai]

2 hours ago, sinbin said:

My kids go to a Catholic run private school. I hate the school but it seems to be the best in the area so my missus has the final say. The school is just a front to make money, which it does in a few ways. As I say its a Catholic school but Christmas Day is a normal school day. I'm confused. I can't figure that out. They can have an unannounced days holiday if the teachers have a meeting but Xmas Day??? 

The complete set up is a money making scam. They seem to do nothing for the children they look after, other than take their money. Instead of teaching the kids about healthy eating, as an example, they do the opposite, and have nothing but unhealthy food on sale during break times. Three break-times, 800+ pupils, 20-30 Baht per break per day, no competition. They couldn't really give two hoots as to physical well being of the kids. But I see this as being across the board in Thai schools. Over weight kids everywhere. I could go on but...................

They do not allow dyed hair even during the Songkran build up, or afterwards. Right carry on.

 

 

My daughters went a prathom Catholic school. They are terrible. 50 years ago they were the best but purely get students as their reputation still carries but recently, there's been a lot of parents complaining about the local Bishop and corruption.

[sinbin]

55 minutes ago, MrPatrickThai said:

My daughters went a prathom Catholic school. They are terrible. 50 years ago they were the best but purely get students as their reputation still carries but recently, there's been a lot of parents complaining about the local Bishop and corruption.

May be a long time ago when Catholic priests/nuns came to Thailand to spread the word of God they were true Christens spreading the word and educating the poor for free, But then they saw the light, and money was to be made which then became the new religion and the Christianity took a back seat.

 

[bbi1]

2 minutes ago, sinbin said:

May be a long time ago when Catholic priests/nuns came to Thailand to spread the word of God they were true Christens spreading the word and educating the poor for free, But then they saw the light, and money was to be made which then became the new religion and the Christianity took a back seat.

 

Don't be fooled, the catholic church owns the most land in the world. Religion is a good business to get into. Not to mention the tax benefits they get.

[MrPatrickThai]

2 hours ago, sinbin said:

May be a long time ago when Catholic priests/nuns came to Thailand to spread the word of God they were true Christens spreading the word and educating the poor for free, But then they saw the light, and money was to be made which then became the new religion and the Christianity took a back seat.

 

In the 90s I worked in a famous Catholic school on Soi Convent, Silom. Taxsin's daughter wasin my class, and Sister Rose was one of the most power figures in Bangkok!

[HooHaa]

3 hours ago, bbi1 said:

The problem comes from too many Farangs in Thailand and on tv so Thai ppl wanna be like them and dye their hair brown instead of keeping it the natural black colour.

life must be so much easier from your point of view.

 

ignorance is bliss.

[kaorop]

On 5/7/2017 at 5:19 PM, KhunBN said:

 

No offence but due to different cultural background I guess. Do you see children as young as 4-5 with dyed hairs etc. as appropriate?

 

Schools should inculcate discipline with neat haircuts, ironed uniform, fingernails trimmed etc. Overall to look smart as they are the walking embodiment of the schools they are in. Furthermore, I believe there is government regulation on coloured hairs since 1970s.

 

Quite right, i've seen Thai teachers whacking kids across the knuckles with a ruler for having dirty finger nails after lunch and rightly soooooo NOT..

[sinbin]

Quote

School rules and regulations.

School Regulations

•    Students must wear school uniform
•    Students must cut their hair according to the school’s regulation – namely, short and natural with no artificial methods.
•    Students must not wear cosmetics and other beauty accessories.
•    Students must not bring valuable items to the school. If this is violated, the teachers will keep such items, which will only be returned when his/her parents come and collect it/them.
•    Students must not keep textbooks and notebooks in the classroom or in the school.
•    Students will use the school’s communal areas with care.
•    Students will not use lifts unaccompanied by teachers, or without permission.

General Rules

•    Students must not leave the school without the school permission. When leaving, students must give a permission card to the school staff.
•    When in school, students must not make a loud noise
•    Morning orientation will be given after morning assembly. Any advice must be taken and be done so seriously.
•    When changing classroom, students must line up and walk quietly.
•    When using special classrooms and/or rooms, e.g. computer room, library, infirmary and so on, students must obey each room’s regulations.
•    Students must behave appropriately to his/her teachers, staff, friends and other people.
•    Students must not visit forbidden places such as club, casino and other unsuitable places for student status.
•    Students must not behave in sexually related manners/ways.
•    Smoking, drinking and drug possession is strongly prohibited.
•    Students must not possess any kind of weapons when in school or in other places.

Arriving and leaving the school

•    Students must attend school regularly, as well as attend every subject according to his/her timetable.
•    When arriving, students shall pay respect to the Buddha image, as well as to teachers.
•    Students must arrive before morning assembly (8.00 a.m.)
•    Any student who arrives later than the above must contact the vice-principal (discipline) for permission to attend classes.
•    When leaving the school, students must present his/her ID cards to ‘duty teachers’.
•    Students must not stay in the school later than 17.30 p.m. unless he/she is allowed to do so.

Absence

•    Students must write a letter explaining his/her reasons for absence. Such a letter must have his/her parents’ signature as a confirmation.
•    If any student is absent more than three consecutive days, she/he must inform the school office and/or classroom teachers for a record. If sick, a letter from a doctor is required.
•    If the above is not carried out, the school assumes that such a student is unreasonably absent from class.

Eating Manners

•    Students must line up when buying food from the school snack shops
•    Students must sit and eat with a proper manner. Eating while walking is strongly forbidden.
•    When finished eating, students must return eating utensils to the school in the areas provided.
•    Students must not bring food to his/her classroom.
•    Students must keep the school tidy and clean.

Lost and found items

•    Students must inform his/her classroom teacher or duty teacher when his/her item is lost.
•    When an item is found, it should be given to the classroom or duty teacher to find the owner & return it.

[puchooay]

Most of the dyed hair happens during the school holidays. The regs at school are so strict the kids like to have a bit of fun when they are off. 

 

Once they get back to school they wi likely be inspected and ordered to have a hair cut. 

[KhunBN]

15 hours ago, sinbin said:

My kids go to a Catholic run private school. I hate the school but it seems to be the best in the area so my missus has the final say. The school is just a front to make money, which it does in a few ways. As I say its a Catholic school but Christmas Day is a normal school day. I'm confused. I can't figure that out. They can have an unannounced days holiday if the teachers have a meeting but Xmas Day??? 

The complete set up is a money making scam. They seem to do nothing for the children they look after, other than take their money. Instead of teaching the kids about healthy eating, as an example, they do the opposite, and have nothing but unhealthy food on sale during break times. Three break-times, 800+ pupils, 20-30 Baht per break per day, no competition. They couldn't really give two hoots as to physical well being of the kids. But I see this as being across the board in Thai schools. Over weight kids everywhere. I could go on but...................

They do not allow dyed hair even during the Songkran build up, or afterwards. Right carry on.

 

 

You summarized what is indeed happening where I live.

 

All they care is about the money. The kids doesn't really learn anything from school from where I send them to. Yes, there are homework like writing numbers etc. but when I ask them what number they are writing, they have no idea. They're just being robots, writing means writing without understanding. I ended up giving extra "tuition" my buying flash cards at home to teach numbers...yes literally to recognize numbers from 1 to 10 at the age of 5/6yo...this is the quality of education we're getting.

 

The unannouced holidays are a thing as well. The teachers could just declare half day or a holiday because she has to attend a "'meeting" or needs to "go to the temple" etc. And the unhealthy eating encouragement is something that pisses me off the most. Encouraging kids to ask money from parents so that they can buy snack. I've never given the kids money but instead pack them healthy snacks (fruits etc) for quick snacks as the school provide lunch. However, they would come back and complain that their friends' parents had given their friends money but why not me...these parents imho, are spoiling their children coupled with the ridiculous school ethics

 

Sorry to hear you're experiencing that in a private school as well, I was considering putting them kids in a private school as well as they are currently in a public school but it seems that the situation does not differ much in neither public nor private schools...the head of the education ministry of the country should really be sacked if this continues...

 

Edited July 7, 2017 by KhunBN

[sinbin]

8 hours ago, KhunBN said:

Sorry to hear you're experiencing that in a private school as well, I was considering putting them kids in a private school as well as they are currently in a public school but it seems that the situation does not differ much in neither public nor private schools...the head of the education ministry of the country should really be sacked if this continues...

Thank you for that post KhunBN as it confirms what I wrote to be true. Write anything negative on here results in the regular call from some members that you're  'bashing'. The 'head of the education ministry' isn't going to do anything as long as his boat isn't rocked, and if it is he'll just blame it on others.

Where my kids go to school I even went and complained with regards to what they teach the children. When my kids were at home they never used a fork when eating at the table, just a spoon and fingers. I asked them why they didn't use a fork. They told me their school didn't provide forks at lunch time and they had to use their fingers. Basically they didn't know any difference from being at school and home.

So yes I went to complain to the school head, a nun, who just sat there grinning like a Cheshire cat. She said she'd report the complaint to the school governors.. They got in touch with my wife and said that 3 forks would be given to all my children at lunch-time as of that day. 800+ kids in the school and only 3 get forks get issued?????? They're a .......ing joke. But what can one do as school choice is severely limited and would they get better teaching at another school???

Edited July 7, 2017 by sinbin

[cooked]

There is so much variation between from one private school to another and between one governm99ent school and an other that it is difficult to give a coherent answer. | have seen primary schools where all they seem to learn is songs and walking (and standing) like soldiers, others that are excellent.

We heard about the local, expensive, Catholic school in Buriram and decided to avoid it, standards have apparently gone down in recent years, the classes are too big. Our granddaughter goes to another private school which also has disadvantages but on the whole is preferable. Here again, we noticed that they got rid of the two security guards recently and the toilets are disgracefully badly maintained - money again raises its ugly head, expecting a price hike next year.

[puchooay]

26 minutes ago, cooked said:

There is so much variation between from one private school to another and between one governm99ent school and an other that it is difficult to give a coherent answer. | have seen primary schools where all they seem to learn is songs and walking (and standing) like soldiers, others that are excellent.

We heard about the local, expensive, Catholic school in Buriram and decided to avoid it, standards have apparently gone down in recent years, the classes are too big. Our granddaughter goes to another private school which also has disadvantages but on the whole is preferable. Here again, we noticed that they got rid of the two security guards recently and the toilets are disgracefully badly maintained - money again raises its ugly head, expecting a price hike next year.

I take your point about how schools can be so drastically different regardles of the origin. Some schools are great others are terrible. 

 

By the way....... Buriram is very lucky as it has one of the best Government primary schools I have ever seen. No need to send your kids private. 

Edited July 8, 2017 by puchooay

[NanLaew]

Certain private Thai schools will tack on the name Catholic, Christian or Saint Somethingorother to their moniker to bestow some inference of offering a professional, balanced, faith-based and disciplined place of learning.

 

Whether some actually achieve that is anyone's guess.

[kwonitoy]

When I went to the large Catholic school in Udon Thani several times to inquire about registration for my son I noted several things.

Everyone raved about how good and disciplined it was, one day I was there was parade and bang drums day, 

Not one person, staff or student ever responded to me in English, even though their English program is "Very Good"

I wasn't allowed to talk to any prospective teachers for my son, they are all "Very Good"

 

He's now in his third year at Paramin School in Udon Thani, private school, each class has a Thai and American teacher so instruction is 50/50 They do change American teachers on yearly basis but I get introduced to them every time.  

I'm Canadian so I like having the American teachers, similar accents 

Every student that I encountered when picking up my son always speaks to me in English

I am very impressed by my sons Thai friends ability to speak  English, they come from Thai homes and their English is excellent

It still has these silly sports days which are just bang a drum and make noise, we don't go to any of these, my son doesn't like the noise

[cooked]

2 hours ago, puchooay said:

I take your point about how schools can be so drastically different regardles of the origin. Some schools are great others are terrible. 

 

By the way....... Buriram is very lucky as it has one of the best Government primary schools I have ever seen. No need to send your kids private. 

We agree for once sm

[tartempion]

My 6 year young daughter is in P1 in a private school in the middle of nowhere and I am fairly satisfied how things go. I don't much like homework, but it shows she must write Thai and English and does her maths. The village school has a zero value reputation and all "better off" parents send their kids to this school.


Sent from my iPad using Thaivisa Connect

[MrPatrickThai]

23 hours ago, tartempion said:

My 6 year young daughter is in P1 in a private school in the middle of nowhere and I am fairly satisfied how things go. I don't much like homework, but it shows she must write Thai and English and does her maths. The village school has a zero value reputation and all "better off" parents send their kids to this school.


Sent from my iPad using Thaivisa Connect

Not all well-off parents send their kids to private schools. I know of many that didn't. One friend's  kid graduated top of the class from Chula and is now a diplomat! She went to the local village school in Sakhon Nakhon.

With my own kids, these private Catholic schools were a waste of money. Supposedly getting English one hour a day, more like once a week. 

It's what the parents teach them that's important. Do the parents sacrifice their own time to help the kids?

I'd send my kids to a Thai program, as they ALWAYS speak English with me, even though I'm fluent in Thai.

English programs have sub standard teachers(due to crap pay). Do you really want them to be taught maths by a guy with a possible degree in Art or a Filipino/African giving them a <deleted> up accent? Thai programs have teachers with a degree in the subject they teach. Put them in an EP, like I did, and they'll need to study in tutor schools to get entrance into a decent uni.

[johnmell]

Have always wondered how it is, that everyone here gets taught English, for a number of years, but hardly any adults round here can speak any.

[sinbin]

2 hours ago, johnmell said:

Have always wondered how it is, that everyone here gets taught English, for a number of years, but hardly any adults round here can speak any.

 

Enforcing a child to attend school wasn't law years ago. It is now. Some families were much poorer than they are today. This usually resulted in the eldest being made to look after the other siblings whilst the parents worked or the child worked. Still happens in some families, but very little.

[cooked]

5 hours ago, sinbin said:

Enforcing a child to attend school wasn't law years ago. It is now. Some families were much poorer than they are today. This usually resulted in the eldest being made to look after the other siblings whilst the parents worked or the child worked. Still happens in some families, but very little.

Learning a language at school that you never get to use is pointless. It'll be forgotten very quickly.

[sinbin]

3 hours ago, cooked said:

Learning a language at school that you never get to use is pointless. It'll be forgotten very quickly.

You could say the same about any subject really. When children look at the life they will lead in the village they must think what use is learning anything as the only work around is the cassava fields. No education needed for that so why bother.

One never knows what's around the corner. Looking back I wish I'd paid more attention at school.