Khun Kuldeep in his Aug 19 letter is right to say Buddhism has lost its way.
I was an “adviser” for a few years at several Bangkok public schools where monks were part of the staff and taught ethics, Buddhism, values and respect.
The students in these public schools were far more well-rounded compared to other students, and there was indeed a great difference in the students' moral character, temperament and judgment.
Bring qualified monk teachers back into the education curriculum. They are sorely needed.
Mr Phillips, in his "Inter schools flawed" letter from the same day, says Thai international school directors have no idea of Western standards in education. He is right.
The curricula at these schools are as narrow as the minds of their Thai principals. Qualified, licensed Western teachers have no say, and even minor suggestions for improvement are ignored.
The only successful international schools here seem to be those where Thai principals or directors hold their position in title only, while the running of these institutions is left to Western professionals with solid backgrounds in education, balanced curricula and management skills.
Does anyone have any answers? No, not really.
The system will continue to perpetuate itself until Thai graduates are simply left out of the world market place.
As for Buddhism, well, if there was more emphasis on moral and ethical education, perhaps many people might think more carefully as adults before turning to profit, greed and corruption.
449900
Swastika of shame
Last Saturday I visited the Museum of Siam and was shocked to find a young man working at the front desk wearing a T-shirt with a huge Nazi swastika on the front.
This young man may be ignorant and have no idea what this symbol meant and still means to hundreds of millions of people, although judging from his attitude, haircut and moustache, I would not be surprised if he knows very well.
What troubles me the most, however, is there were five co-workers with him and not one seemed to notice or care.
Appalled, I inquired about the reasons for wearing the T-shirt behind the front desk of a history museum. The young man didn’t seem to speak any English (it makes you wonder about the staff-selection procedures). The answer finally came from a female co-worker: “It’s just a T-shirt,” she said.
I should have replied that my shoes are just shoes and I take them off every time I visit a temple. My shorts and sleeveless T-shirt are just that, and I don’t wear them when I visit the Grand Palace. It’s called respect for others.
A public display of the swastika is a legal offence in several European countries, punishable by years in prison.
Enforcement of these laws may be questionable. What is not questionable is the reason for them: Nazi symbols are an insult to the millions of innocent victims of Nazism, and indeed to any decent human being.
There were many Europeans visiting the Museum of Siam, showing an interest in this country and its history.
Some of them must have parents or grandparents who suffered or died in World War II.
These people will go home and explain that the staff of the museum either ignore the deadliest war in human history or are astoundingly thoughtless.
Aside from devastating Europe, the Nazis stole and destroyed millions of works of art and documents in an attempt to erase European history.
If young Thais working at a history museum do not know that, this country has a problem.
If they don’t care, it has an even bigger problem.
Roger Cases Majoral
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