I know this is a long shot but I used to be part of a group called the Brahma Kumaris who had a programme for children - Living Values.
There were 12 universal core values stressed: cooperation, freedom, happiness, honesty, humility, love, peace, respect, responsibility, simplicity, tolerance, and unity. I would like our daughter, who is at Yamsaard, to imbibe these values.
The present curriculum is okay but crams as much in as possible and I'm unhappy with the amount of testing. There is no time for other important lessons or even critical thinking.
Are there any schools, anyone is aware of, that have a values-based approach?
Values Based Education In Thailand?
Values Based Education In Thailand?
"Let no one who has the slightest desire to live in peace and quietness be tempted, under any circumstances, to enter upon the chivalrous task of trying to correct a popular error."---William Thoms
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Vital Spark
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Dream on Mr.P...
The only value, out of the 12, that most Thai or Chinese run institutions, schools, or universities here understand would be 'respect', and unfortunately it's forced (or bought) - not earned.
Thai schools and universities are obsessed with tests and exams.
I don't know anything about the Brahma Kumaris programme, but it sounds like the kind of education I would love to be involved in. If you ever decide to set up a school, just let me know.
VS
The only value, out of the 12, that most Thai or Chinese run institutions, schools, or universities here understand would be 'respect', and unfortunately it's forced (or bought) - not earned.
Thai schools and universities are obsessed with tests and exams.
I don't know anything about the Brahma Kumaris programme, but it sounds like the kind of education I would love to be involved in. If you ever decide to set up a school, just let me know.
VS
"Properly trained, man can be a dog's best friend"
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JimmyGreaves
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Re: Values Based Education In Thailand?
I spent a bit of time involved with this group, they helped me get my head back together after divorce.MrPlum wrote:I know this is a long shot but I used to be part of a group called the Brahma Kumaris who had a programme for children - Living Values.
Watch your thoughts, for they become words.
Watch your words, for they become actions.
Watch your actions, for they become habits.
Watch your habits, for they become character.
Watch your character, for it becomes your destiny.
Diplomacy is the ability to tell a man to go to hell so that he looks forward to making the trip
Re: Values Based Education In Thailand?
Great to hear Jimmy. I spent a year in a center in the Algarve. Also stayed at the UK headquarters. Highly recommended.JimmyGreaves wrote:I spent a bit of time involved with this group, they helped me get my head back together after divorce.MrPlum wrote:I know this is a long shot but I used to be part of a group called the Brahma Kumaris who had a programme for children - Living Values.
http://www.bkwsu.com/index_html
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sandman67
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Its a good idea, but like VS id be amazed if it bore any fruit....
Normal Thai education teaches by rote and stifles independent thought and reasoning. Thats just their way.... maybe that will change..maybe not.
Values on the other hand are taught and learned through interaction with society. Teach all you like, but a developing youth will still interact with a culture whose values of saving face over telling the truth and admitting guilt or lack of competence, and acceptance of corruption at all levels as "oiling the wheels" will frustrate those teachings. Again thats just their way....
It would take a generation or two to change any cultural influences...and all I see is a continuation of the Thai way laced with the evils of western commercialism and materialism spread via junk TV and a MTV mindset...the system fills their heads with the bad stuff, blind nationalism and thinking that taking lessons from experience comes second to having and maintaining face.
The system teaches that being Thai means you are always right, and that farangs are wrong and daft....I get that every day when dealing with Mrs S's quirks. No matter how hard I explain or try to show her it just doesn't sink in that maybe she isnt right all the time...she even thinks the way I do simple menial tasks around the house is wrong...mopping the floor for instance, or hanging out the laundry, ironing etc. I do it wrong because I dont do it her way....that goes on all levels from housework to expecting her staff to do what they should and turn up for work on time....thats just me being a bad farang.
That may all seem cynical and defeatist, but Id say its pragmatic and realistic.
The best, as farang proxy or actual parents, we can do is to try to teach kids a different way of looking at the world. Start small changes and see how it works out.
Try buying a world map or atlas...show them Thailand compared to the rest of the world. My two kids had never seen a world map or globe till I showed them one. now whenever they are here we spend hours with Google Earth.....I show them all the other bits of the world...they love it:cheers:
Normal Thai education teaches by rote and stifles independent thought and reasoning. Thats just their way.... maybe that will change..maybe not.
Values on the other hand are taught and learned through interaction with society. Teach all you like, but a developing youth will still interact with a culture whose values of saving face over telling the truth and admitting guilt or lack of competence, and acceptance of corruption at all levels as "oiling the wheels" will frustrate those teachings. Again thats just their way....
It would take a generation or two to change any cultural influences...and all I see is a continuation of the Thai way laced with the evils of western commercialism and materialism spread via junk TV and a MTV mindset...the system fills their heads with the bad stuff, blind nationalism and thinking that taking lessons from experience comes second to having and maintaining face.
The system teaches that being Thai means you are always right, and that farangs are wrong and daft....I get that every day when dealing with Mrs S's quirks. No matter how hard I explain or try to show her it just doesn't sink in that maybe she isnt right all the time...she even thinks the way I do simple menial tasks around the house is wrong...mopping the floor for instance, or hanging out the laundry, ironing etc. I do it wrong because I dont do it her way....that goes on all levels from housework to expecting her staff to do what they should and turn up for work on time....thats just me being a bad farang.
That may all seem cynical and defeatist, but Id say its pragmatic and realistic.
The best, as farang proxy or actual parents, we can do is to try to teach kids a different way of looking at the world. Start small changes and see how it works out.
Try buying a world map or atlas...show them Thailand compared to the rest of the world. My two kids had never seen a world map or globe till I showed them one. now whenever they are here we spend hours with Google Earth.....I show them all the other bits of the world...they love it:cheers:
"Science flew men to the moon. Religion flew men into buildings."
"To sin by silence makes cowards of men."
"To sin by silence makes cowards of men."
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dtaai-maai
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I love the way a fairly simple question can (very occasionally) turn into a very interesting thread.
Values-based education. I admit to never having heard of the concept. To me, values are something you pick up from your family and your environment. Some of mine probably came from school as well, but only indirectly (it was part of my 'environment'); I certainly don't see it as a 'subject' that could be taught. ('Zis is how you vill behafe, or you vill not fit into Society.' Sorry, I'm sure this is a gross misrepresentation of how the system works - call it unpoetic licence...)
The Brahma Kumaris thing is not something I would ever sneer at, but for kids? Home is where these qualities should be imbibed (and I'm not having a go at Mr P or JG here - anyone interested in such a scheme is undoubtedly bringing up their kids with these values already). School can reinforce that, but by example, rather than by direct education. VS says that she knows nothing about Brahma Kumaris, but would like to be involved. I know nothing about it either, but I do know VS, and I suspect she's involved in it already every time she walks into a classroom, as are Mr VS and a few other of our farang colleagues.
I often feel quite defensive about the Thais when people start criticising the way things are done here. Not because things are so great here, but because they are far from great everywhere else. Take Sandman's point (made previously by many others) about independent thought. Spot on. I quite agree. But let's not kid ourselves that the western education system is particularly successful in that respect. It's about as difficult to get a degree in the UK these days as it is in Thailand. In fact, it's very difficult to 'fail' at anything, because failure is exclusive, and we don't want anyone feeling excluded or under any sort of pressure, do we? Teaching students how to learn, how to want to learn, how to be curious about the world. These are wonderful ideals, and let's do what little we can in our own little sphere of influence to promote them, but let's not kid ourselves that we have all the answers.
Values-based education. I admit to never having heard of the concept. To me, values are something you pick up from your family and your environment. Some of mine probably came from school as well, but only indirectly (it was part of my 'environment'); I certainly don't see it as a 'subject' that could be taught. ('Zis is how you vill behafe, or you vill not fit into Society.' Sorry, I'm sure this is a gross misrepresentation of how the system works - call it unpoetic licence...)
The Brahma Kumaris thing is not something I would ever sneer at, but for kids? Home is where these qualities should be imbibed (and I'm not having a go at Mr P or JG here - anyone interested in such a scheme is undoubtedly bringing up their kids with these values already). School can reinforce that, but by example, rather than by direct education. VS says that she knows nothing about Brahma Kumaris, but would like to be involved. I know nothing about it either, but I do know VS, and I suspect she's involved in it already every time she walks into a classroom, as are Mr VS and a few other of our farang colleagues.
I often feel quite defensive about the Thais when people start criticising the way things are done here. Not because things are so great here, but because they are far from great everywhere else. Take Sandman's point (made previously by many others) about independent thought. Spot on. I quite agree. But let's not kid ourselves that the western education system is particularly successful in that respect. It's about as difficult to get a degree in the UK these days as it is in Thailand. In fact, it's very difficult to 'fail' at anything, because failure is exclusive, and we don't want anyone feeling excluded or under any sort of pressure, do we? Teaching students how to learn, how to want to learn, how to be curious about the world. These are wonderful ideals, and let's do what little we can in our own little sphere of influence to promote them, but let's not kid ourselves that we have all the answers.
This is the way
I agree that most values come from a good family and a loving, caring home environment. I've never really heard much about a values based education system. I think in the U.S. it would have to be privately funded or people would sue and scream that teachers were indoctrinating their children.
Love them or hate them, but religions can be an effective arena for learning values too. That is, if the teachings of the religion are properly followed and not twisted into something ugly by zealots who are only interested in money, power, and controlling the masses.
Whether you believe in them or not, most religions in their intended untainted forms do exactly that, teach values... love thy neighbor, honor thy father, etc. I've read the entire Bible from cover to cover and while the Old Testament has a lot of that fire and brimstone and eye for an eye stuff, the new testament or the teachings of Jesus are exactly the teaching of values. I've also done a lot of reading on Islam and Buddhism and those and their prophets also teach/taught much the same values.
Too bad that they are frequently used to corrupt and control, rather than for the good that they could achieve.
Love them or hate them, but religions can be an effective arena for learning values too. That is, if the teachings of the religion are properly followed and not twisted into something ugly by zealots who are only interested in money, power, and controlling the masses.
Whether you believe in them or not, most religions in their intended untainted forms do exactly that, teach values... love thy neighbor, honor thy father, etc. I've read the entire Bible from cover to cover and while the Old Testament has a lot of that fire and brimstone and eye for an eye stuff, the new testament or the teachings of Jesus are exactly the teaching of values. I've also done a lot of reading on Islam and Buddhism and those and their prophets also teach/taught much the same values.
Too bad that they are frequently used to corrupt and control, rather than for the good that they could achieve.
Agree with much of what has been said here, but I think, VS is about right with the "dream on" comment here in LOS(to put it in layman's terms). They are simply just not used to it or can't even comprehend it. Just how they think, whether right or wrong, reality.
Having said that, there much useful info in DM's/Sandman's and HHF's posts aswell, which rings true regarding this situation.
In a 'sorted out' world MrP, fair enough, right thinking, but reality is the great equalizer on many issues here. Not saying you're wrong, just that they haven't comprehended this sort of stuff yet.
Having said that, there much useful info in DM's/Sandman's and HHF's posts aswell, which rings true regarding this situation.
In a 'sorted out' world MrP, fair enough, right thinking, but reality is the great equalizer on many issues here. Not saying you're wrong, just that they haven't comprehended this sort of stuff yet.
Resolve dissolves in alcohol
I did say it was a long shot. 
'The Living Values Education Program is effective in decreasing violence and bullying, and creating safe, caring school climates which are conducive to quality learning.'
http://www.livingvalues.net/
I just scanned the Bangkok Post for 'values education' and some interesting results came up. You can do the same if interested so I won't post a long list. A couple stood out...
This is an international school in Bangkok...
http://www.bangkokpost.com/education/si ... ap2004.htm
Buyer Beware...
http://www.bangkokpost.com/education/si ... mr2503.htm
'The Living Values Education Program is effective in decreasing violence and bullying, and creating safe, caring school climates which are conducive to quality learning.'
http://www.livingvalues.net/
I just scanned the Bangkok Post for 'values education' and some interesting results came up. You can do the same if interested so I won't post a long list. A couple stood out...
This is an international school in Bangkok...
http://www.bangkokpost.com/education/si ... ap2004.htm
Buyer Beware...
http://www.bangkokpost.com/education/si ... mr2503.htm