Showing 1 - 3 of 3
A silly syllabus
Oped, Postbag, Published on 04/11/2020
» Former Education Minister Somsak Prissananantakul favours providing students with a better understanding of history (BP, Nov 3), so long as a process known as chamra prawattisat be undertaken, in which academics with differing opinions come together to agree on a standard interpretation. This proposal sums up much of what is wrong with Thai education, and perhaps Thai culture as well. Why have a standard interpretation of history? So it can be crammed down students' throats for later regurgitation on command? History is like a photograph. It captures events from a specific angle, with a specific depth of field, and perhaps through various filters. Why not expose students to multiple interpretations and let them, through discussion, identify the biases in each and, in the process, develop critical thinking skills?
Leave Yingluck be
Oped, Postbag, Published on 13/01/2018
» Re: "Officials 'must capture Yingluck'," (BP, Jan 12). We should all extend our sympathy to the government for having to resist pressure from various sources to pursue extradition proceedings against Yingluck Shinawatra.
Whingeing old bag
News, Postbag, Published on 26/11/2016
» In the 1970s we had several correspondents of the "US Army (Ret'd)" ilk, bemoaning the failure of Thailand's governments and administrations in conducting the nation's affairs on the admirable lines of Rainbow Gulch or Redneck Springs. Possessed of almost universal expertise, they were very, very boring.