Kids not taught about horrific history

[PeteC]

The 19-year-old BNK48 singer, Pichayapa "Namsai" Natha, could not have been the only one who was unintentionally insensitive to the World War II holocaust when she wore a T-shirt featuring a Nazi flag with a swastika during a rehearsal last Friday.

She is among the majority of us, domestically educated Thais, who know little about World War II and the massacre of more than six million Jews. Our school textbooks just give us a patchy tour to this chapter of world history.

The genocide at the hands of Nazis is not the only page of history that has largely gone missing in our school textbooks. The 1976 student massacre in Thailand, the 1975-1979 Cambodian genocide carried out by the Khmer Rouge regime and the long, costly and divisive Vietnam War from 1955-1975 -- to name but a few -- also do not have their place in the "history subject" of our compulsory education.

As a result, we have not learned much from past atrocities, or social values, hate speeches, ruling leaders and propaganda that had driven those awful pages of history. Consequently, we are prone to repeat similar crimes.

Learning about and reflecting on these histories in school, at the young age, could have helped nurture generations of Thais who are more tolerant, less ignorant, less xenophobic and non-fascistic. Why? It could offer us a developed understanding about the mistakes in the past. When we are young, we tend to look at them with an unbiased mind, seeing objectively why and how those horrendous crimes took place, and why that kind of incident should no longer be tolerated.

But our education policymakers have dictated otherwise about how Thai students should revisit histories.

Our history courses in primary and secondary schools merely touch upon the national "triumphant" pages of the past when the country conquered its neighbouring enemies. Worse still, the education policymakers only let us recite and memorise chronological events and dry facts about those events without encouraging open discussion and debate about them.

Such typical teaching of history in school paints Thailand as a semi-utopian territory to young students, instead of letting them learn from the country's past mistakes. So don't be surprised if many of us are still clueless about the October 1976 massacre when state forces and far-right paramilitaries attacked student protesters on the campus of Thammasat University.

And don't be surprised if there are still people who may laugh at the notorious "chair" picture, which shows bystanders cheering on and laughing at the scene of a man raising a chair to beat a dead body hung on a tamarind tree at Sanam Luang on Oct 6, 1976. During past years, we still have seen a similar type of crowd who laughed at or ignored tragic incidents of political protesters being killed or jailed, notably during the colour-coded political conflict.

About 100 people died during the crackdown of red-shirt protesters in the heart of Bangkok in 2010. But this is not a big deal among many Thais who viewed those protesters as "the other".

Many people have been jailed for sharing "fake news" or expressing their thoughts on social media. Many poor forest dwellers have been forced out of lands they lived on for generations because the state later declared them national parks. None of these have resulted in a massive public outcry calling for more just and tolerant laws and law enforcement.

In fact, Thailand might not have been trapped into this political turmoil or might not have been ruled by authoritarian regimes over and over again if our educators let us learn not just about these awful histories but also other social subjects such as human rights and ethics.

Sadly,when it comes to social science learning in the compulsory education, the Ministry of Education has so long dictated the priorities for us: Subjects that promote nationalism, patriotism, conformity and Buddhism.

After many countless history lessons, have young students actually learnt from the past?

As dry and recital as history courses are Buddhism classes. I have few friends from school who said Buddhism was their favourite subject. It was a boring, compulsory subject that rarely provided meaningful insight and understanding about the religion. I do believe that much of our learning about Buddhism has something to do with our participation in community ceremonies and our direct interaction with monks and temples, rather than those mandatory classes.

In fact, even though Thailand has not officially recognised Buddhism as a national religion, our education system seems to have done otherwise. Other religions do not have that prominent attention in classrooms even though there are many Thais who are not Buddhists.

So instead of dedicating unproductive numerous hours of school learning on Buddhism, should we rather reallocate the time for subjects that could help polish the mind, develop the thoughts and open the eyes of our young people on topics such as human rights and ethics?

And I don't mean "human rights" in the typical Thainess context that the state thinks we should embrace it, but in a context that promotes the acceptance of each others' rights, respect for diversity and differences and intolerance to discrimination, among other universal values.

Replacing Buddhism with ethics learning can help our school produce students, who are not submissive to state-dictated "good" values, but ones who can form logical and objective judgements.

More importantly, if we replace those countless hours of classroom study on the feel-good histories with the forgotten pages such as the October 1976 massacre and the World War II holocaust, our young generations would have understood how horrific the outcome of a hate crime can be.

Disappointingly, changes to the Thai school textbooks seems to be too much for many fact deniers at the Education Ministry. For example, in the wake of the BNK48 singer incident, Nitsuda Apinuntaporn, an official at the ministry's Basic Education Commission, said there's no need to improve the history curriculum.

The fact that many of us have conveniently embraced authoritative and dictatorial military rulings over and over again speak volumes about what kind of education that has shaped our society.

Of course, there are other factors that shape our thinking and behaviour, but education is still one of them.

We may have to admit that the education system could have fostered an ignorant and non-tolerant Thai society. And the BNK48 singer has done us a favour by putting it into the spotlight.

Source: https://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/opi ... y#cxrecs_s

[handdrummer]

If, as the writer wants, Thais were educated in the manner in which the writer indicates, the Govt. would lose control of the populace. The Govt. doesn't want people to think and reason, it wants them to obey. The more ignorant people are the more obedient they become.

[dundrillin]

I hear that point of view a lot but any government that does not educate the young people to survive in this new digital world is doomed. If people can’t find work to enable them to look after their families that’s when revolutions occur. How long can the likes of Homepro continue to be so over staffed when Lazada,Amazon etc are gaining market share.

[laphanphon]

Do we need to be told / taught about something that happened over 70 yrs ago, with different, conflicting facts of it. Not that anyone learns from history, as that's obvious.

It's not going to help understand the past, present, or prepare anyone for the future. Wasted time and brain cells filled with useless info, IMHO.

[HHTel]

I find that quite a naive perspective. Knowing our history helps us understand how we are today. How laws evolved. Even in more modern times, how we became reliant on computers etc. There are many arguments about historical fact and by reading our history we will formulate our own opinions (critical thinking).
Without knowing history and understanding what went wrong on occasion, we are in danger of repeating history rather than learning from it.
I could go on for pages but suffice it to be said "History is important".

[Chazz14]

Of course history is important - for me especially that which has occurred in my lifetime. Being aware of e.g. The Vietnam war, the Irish "Troubles," 9/11 (official and alternative views) and the U.K. military intervention the Middle East for the past 15 years has certainly made me more cynical and wary of so-called official sources i.e. the (once great) BBC.

Since living here it has become obvious to me that the last thing a military-style government wants to do is improve the general standard of education (as handdrummer mentioned) and have young people asking awkward question and thinking "what if" etc.

[laphanphon]

Without knowing history and understanding what went wrong on occasion, we are in danger of repeating history rather than learning from it.

As I said, "nobody learns from it", as how many wars / conflicts, after the last one to end all.

That and history is being whitewashed, to fit those who control all, to fit their agenda. I see quite a few things, being pushed, that I know, since living through the events, to be now inaccurate. Along with the 'dumbing down' of all things. Glad I grew up when I did.

History buff myself, but realize, it's irrelevant to today's youth, and a waste of time spent teaching. Especially the new version of it.

Learning a trade / skill set, and how to be a free thinker, is more important. The ability to break free of the 'working class hero' programming now being taught.

We'll all get the next fake history lesson, with the next Hollywood blockbuster.

Along with the fake wiki page, and fake news-blips, that will validate it.

[HHTel]

Whilst I understand your point of view, this thread was started due to the ignorance of a Thai pop star.

a waste of time spent teaching

When being taught in the west, the listener has the option of taking note or 'binning' it. That option doesn't exist here as the teachers will not 'waste any time' as they don't teach it at all.

[handdrummer]

I don't remember who said this: History is written by the victor. So, yes, the histories that we read are colored to suit the winner and we may never know the truth but the history of battles isn't the only type of history that exists. There are histories of inventions, families, designs, etc. Let's not narrow the field by narrowing the scope of history. And while those who know history may have chosen to not learn from it and thereby repeat it, that is a choice and not a rule.

[HHTel]

History is written by the victor.

Winston Churchill

[laphanphon]

Whilst I understand your point of view, this thread was started due to the ignorance of a Thai pop star.

Ignorance or not, why should wearing an image of a swastika offend anyone, whether nazi or not.

Because some special interest group decided it was. Even made it illegal, or having a different opinion of the holocaust illegal in some some countries. So much for free thought.

People wearing their underwear as shirts (singlet / vest), or whatever they're called, basically a white 'muscle' shirt, originally designed as an undergarment, well, isn't offensive, as nothing offends me, but I think very uncouth..... Beside screaming very poor, usually looks ugly as all hell, and well.....could easily be offensive.

I posted an image of the 'hooded Penitents of the Arciconfraternita of Saint Monica' elsewhere, and got slammed as a KKK member / enthusiast. Did it just to point out the ignorance, and how people get brainwashed by special interest groups.

Seriously, if I returned to the USA, I don't think I would be able to have a conversation or express a thought, the PC nutters have gone so far off the charts.

How do describe someone of African decent in USA, as some don't like; black, colored, negro. So if having to label, I use chocolate person, as who doesn't like chocolate.....

Everyone of pronoun / descriptive sensitive. Can't say 'he' / 'she' for gender assignment .... WTF. I haven't a clue how to talk to these people....

[MDMK]

Can't say 'he' / 'she' for gender assignment .... WTF. I haven't a clue how to talk to these people....

As it is just now.... if Hairy armed, bearded, mustached, bald-headed Dave tells you he is female and wants to be called Donna you have the CHOICE to respect his wishes or not.

But....

The UK is losing the plot on this gender self determination shit.


The government consultation period on gender self determination is now closed, the law hasn't changed yet, but I fear it's going to be totally insane. A bloke who looks like a bloke, acts like a bloke, dates women like a bloke, dresses like a bloke, has a beard like a bloke, will have full legal protection to call himself a woman, and demand to referred to as a woman. And if I dare to say "well ok you self identify as a woman, which is your legal right, but you're actually just a transwoman, I am a proper woman" .... then I would be guilty of gender discrimination and punishable under the law.

Any perverted male arsehole with criminal intentions will be able to access women-only spaces just by saying "I feel like a woman today". And we "proper" women (and young vulnerable girls!) will just have to accept it.

Men who are shit at sports and never win anything, well all they'll have to do is say "I used to be John but I now feel like Joanna" will legally have to be allowed to compete as a women, meaning "proper" women will be shoved out of their sports as men pretending to be women will still outperform them.

It's absolutely bonkers.

Ian Huntley (a perverted child molesting murdering bastard - for anyone not familiar with him - is serving a very long sentence in prison) has already made requests to legally be accepted a woman. That will mean a much easier sentence for him in a women's prison. It will also make the women in the prison very vulnerable, as the "man" is the very worst kind of sexual predator there is. But if the law goes through, just watch all the pedo's and rapists and perverts queuing up to declare how they now self identify as women just so their "prey" is easier to catch.

OK... I'll get off my soapbox now

[oakdale160]

I remember talking to 2 Aussies who had Thai wives. They visited Thai every year from Aus to coincide with ANZAC day. On that day they went up to Hellfire Pass and mourned the death of the Aussies who died there. Even after several years of doing this, their Thai wives could not understand them doing this.

[Big Boy]

Strange, when a lot of Thais died there also.

I find the same at the Historical Park at Ao Manao. Very few Thais knew about it, and even less realise they were in bed with the losing side. "It was just a row."

[HHTel]

Strange, when a lot of Thais died there also.

Yes, and there were 7 or 8 times Thai deaths than all the allies together. But you never seem to hear of that.