OPINION

School rule row

Re: "'Yok' told to obey school regulations", (BP, June 16).

The case of activist Thanalop "Yok" Phalanchai, who goes against the uniforms and other regulations of Triam Udom Suksa Pattanakarn School, offers a chance for both sides to practise democracy.

As Office of the Basic Education Commissioner secretary-general Amporn Pinasa noted, "School is a place where we cultivate children to grow up to live with others under the same rules, which is similar to having a country ruled by a constitution. School regulations stem from a public hearing at school attended by teachers, students, and parents. So everyone accepts these rules before studying here" -- which is fully in line with democracy.

Give all parties time to discuss the need to revise the school's rules, then hold a vote of teachers, students, and parents. If a revamp is decided upon, give the parties the chance to advocate for their causes, then hold an election.

In addition to teaching people how to live together, I suggest that all agree that "Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire" (Plutarch), and relate the school's regulations to achieving its mission. The reason is simply that an institution's regulations should help it reach its raison d'etre.

In the meantime, Yok should comply with the existing rules and be granted the freedom of expression guaranteed by our constitution to promote her cause.

Ever the optimist

Re: "Whoever takes office will inherit a mess", (Opinion, June 15).

As bad as the Thai and world economy have been performing in the first quarter of 2023, economist/columinist Chartchai Parasuk stunningly shows that things are only going to get worse for the rest of the year.

So its hard to see how any new Thai government will be able to make the economy progress much once they come into power, whether it be the Move Forward Party's pledge to increase the daily minimum wage rate for the nation's workers, or Pheu Thai's promise to give 10,000 to all Thai households.

I'd have to agree with the writer that the World Bank's prediction for the economy to grow around 4% this year is overly optimistic.

Bowing and scraping

Re: "In defence of China", (PostBag, June 5).

Yingwai Suchaovanich is a Chinese apologist. China, under Xi Jinping, has openly declared its goal is to rule the entire world. Religion has always been considered by CCP strategists as an enemy. Yingwai insists, "To use 'kowtow' as the headline whenever we touch on China is not appropriate". Correct, the truly appropriate expression mandated by the Chinese social credit system is "kowtow or die".

Underplaying it

Re: "Asean no-nuke treaty in perilous times", (Opinion, June 13).

I am a regular reader of your paper. But how can you run an editorial that calls Russia's ghastly invasion, "an ongoing dispute between Ukraina and Russia". You lose so much credibility.

Curb the weed

Re: "Activists make case for weed", (BP, June 10).

Someone told me recently there were over 150 cannabis outlets on Koh Samui. I think it might be an underestimate. I have seen people smoking in hotel swimming pools, in restaurants and walking down the street.

Even Fisherman's Village on Samui, which has always been a family- friendly haven that has not allowed the adult entertainment available in Chaweng, is full of weed shops, with more on the way.

I do not think governments should dictate what we say, drink, smoke, eat, look at or do in our homes. However, some social controls are necessary to protect the young. If the government really meant that cannabis should only be legalised for medical purposes, why is it not only available from pharmacies? Don't ban it again, just reign it back like cigarettes and alcohol.

Pension tweak sought

Re: "Council urges effort to woo foreign retirees", (Business, June 15).

I see there is a discussion about encouraging more foreign retirees. May I suggest they could start by negotiating with the UK government to permit British retirees to receive pension increases as afforded at other Asian retirement spots.

I have not been able to receive annual increments since first drawing my state pension 13 years ago. This in addition to the fact that when I arrived here in 2001, I got 85 baht to £1. Now, it's exactly half. Permitting annual UK pension increases would mean more pensioners would retire here, and where will they spend or save their benefits? In Thailand, of course.