The best lessons are in a class of their own

THINKBOX

The best lessons are in a class of their own

Published: 10 Jan 2013 at 00.00
Newspaper section: Life

With the audacious daydream that I might be able to change the world through one kid at a time, I tutor during the weekends. I honestly really fear for the future of (Thai) mankind, so I drag myself out of bed every Sunday morning and try to give my students what their clearly lacking schools fail to.

I think I die a little every time they fail to give me an answer that doesn't even have a right or wrong, but is an answer that is based solely on their own opinion.

The completely lost looks I get makes me feel like my asking of them to use their own brain to come up with an analytical answer is as if I've just asked them to lick the toilet seat.

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paullane
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Discussion 2 : 10 Jan 2013 at 15.242
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The main problem is that 995 of Thai teachers are products of the system they endorse. They simply know no better because they have never experienced the alternatives themselves. Talk to any Thai teachers and 95% will STILL tell you that it is "bad" for kids to ask questions!

Teachers need to learn that respect has to be earned, it is not a god given right just because of the vaunted position in Thai society they are granted.
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DonAleman
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Discussion 1 : 10 Jan 2013 at 12.511
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The answer to the Thai educational system is your paragraph 4 as
it calls for a massive input of money,turning the present system upside down
and starting over with "outsiders" trained to revamp such huge failures. This,
simply, will never happen and, if you feel you have reached/actually taught
even one student then, you have, in a small way changed his/her world and,
probably many in his/her life ! Koodos Parisa !
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The best lessons are in a class of their own | Bangkok Post: opinion