Opinion
Education: Clueless and misguided
By: Voranai Vanijaka
7/06/2009
The new school term has started, and with it, a new syllabus for the advancement and betterment of Thai students, who are the future of Thailand. The new syllabus introduced to 435 Bangkok public schools is called "Building a Consciousness for Constructive Responsibility" or "Patriotism, the Concentrated Version" (NB This is my own direct translation). This syllabus is only a short course and is the start of what officials and educators believe are better things to come.
The aim of the syllabus is to instil a democratic consciousness into Thai youth. A most important instillation, since democracy is a central issue of the political and social strife the country has suffered through these past few years. Officials, educators and various esteemed individuals are working on the longer syllabus, with the same aim of promoting an understanding of democracy, and hence patriotism and unity, correctly and constructively.
Patriotism, the Concentrated Version focuses on better understanding the meaning of the Thai national anthem. This is done by handing out and going through the lyrics with the students after the singing of the national anthem at 8am every morning, the latter being an already required activity at schools. As well, there will be prayer activities for the religions of Thailand, such as Buddhism and Islam. During home-room hours, teachers are to instil in the young love and devotion to King and country, and religion.
If a country is grand, it's because the country's education system is great. If a country is poor, it's because the country's education system is paltry. Greatness is achieved by excellence of the mind and integrity of the character. Mediocrity is the best possible consequence the clueless and misguided could hope for. So here's a very simple question: What exactly does the national anthem, praying and patriotism have to do with democracy?
We Thais all know the national anthem by heart. We can sing it in our sleep. We know the melody was composed by the great composer Phra Jenduriyang (whose real name was Peter Feit, born to an American father and a Thai mother of Mon descent) following the 1932 coup that overthrew the absolute monarchy. We know the lyrics were rewritten by Luang Saranuprapan in 1939, when the country changed its name from Siam to Thailand. We know that every day we'll hear the national anthem at 8am and 6pm, because prime minister and military dictator Field Marshal Plaek Pibunsongkram decreed so 70 years ago.
Guess what else we know? We know that the national anthem is an excellent ballad on patriotism that promotes unity, the courage to fight and make sacrifices for the country. All of which are wonderful things, except that not one word in the national anthem has anything to do with democracy.
The problem in Thailand is never patriotism. Both the yellow PAD and the red UDD love Thailand no more, or no less than anyone else. The problem is that as a country we can't distinguish between patriotism and democracy. Clueless and misguided, we mistakenly think they are the same thing.
Kim Jong-il is a patriot who loves North Korea, there's no doubt of that. Does that mean he loves democracy, or his people?
The problem is, as a country, as a collective identity, we have no clue what democracy is - yet we continue to insist and persist in our ignorance. A man in yellow waves a banner and breaks laws for democracy, while a man in red waves a banner and breaks laws for democracy, while everyone else cries for democracy - but who actually knows what democracy is?
Therefore, instead of singing, praying and expressing undying love and devotion, all of which we Thais do naturally anyway, why not just offer a course on democracy itself?
A syllabus on its history and evolution in the context of the human civilisation in general and the Kingdom of Thailand in particular, and its meaning and consequence to modern Thailand?
Looking ahead into the future, the subject of history, which has been absent in Thai schools for so long, will make a comeback in the school year of 2010.
The Office of the Basic Education Commission plans to have the subject of history taught for at least one hour per week in Thai schools, as part of the five social studies curriculum - the other four are ethics, geography, the role of citizens and economics.
Details of the course are not yet available, though the aim is one and the same as the "Patriotism, the Concentrated Version" syllabus. As such, scepticism abounds in this writer's mind.
History is a subject that everyone should learn. Thailand cannot understand where we are today, if we do not know how we have developed and evolved from the past.
And if we don't know the past and don't understand the present, how can we plant the seeds for our future?
With that in mind, we should understand that history is about truth, not patriotism. No Thai can ever understand and know who we are and where we are going as a country, if we only learn about the greatness and glory of Thailand. Such a context would invite even more confusion, as students and teachers alike frown over the thought: "Wait a second, if we are so great and glorious, how could we be so messed up right now?" And the easiest way out of such a quandary is to blame foreigners.
For the new history syllabus to be useful and constructive, to foster the minds and nurture the souls of the young so they are equipped and inspired to build a better future for Thailand, it has to be based on the truth - not only the good, but also the bad and the ugly.
For instance, those topics that are never taught in Thai schools - October 1973, October 1976 and Black May 1992 - are events that directly affected and shaped the modern Thai democracy. Will they be included in the new history syllabus?
Patriotism is a form of love and devotion. But a love for one's country isn't the same as the love we watch so fanatically on Korean or Thai soap operas. In those soap operas, a love that is blind, deaf and dumb is always romantic and enjoys a happy ending. However, in real life, a love that is blind, deaf and dumb will only make one trip and fall over, smashing one's face on the ground.
We Thais have a popular saying: "Love your child the right way." Which means, not to be blind, deaf and dumb in your love for your child, but rather love constructively, foster and nurture, recognise mistakes and fix them, for the child's future. Shouldn't we also love Thailand in such a way? Love your country enough to recognise the flaws and correct the mistakes, for a better tomorrow?
If we want our youth to be capable of building a better future for Thailand, we should cease and desist from ruining education for them.
bangkokpost.com