Violence in Schools: The Case of 'Sarasas' Raises Many Questions for Parents, Especially Regarding the Qualities of a 'Good Teacher' That Are Not Dependent on Tuition Fees

Teachers are providers of knowledge, akin to another set of parents not bound by blood. Schools serve as another home where children spend an average of 8-9 hours a day. If teachers and schools become nightmares for children—places that instill fear and violence—will we remain silent, or will we take action to create change in what we call 'educational institutions' and allow teachers who possess both knowledge and ethics to fulfill their roles in nurturing quality individuals for society?

However, the news of teachers harming children in society raises questions about the teaching profession. How much can we trust them to educate our children? Can tuition fees in the hundreds of thousands truly buy a good quality of life for our kids? This sparks a conversation with Darunee Boonwong, or 'Teacher Doksohk', a primary school teacher at Wat Pa Pradu School, who opens up about the challenging path of becoming a teacher, noting that being a 'good teacher' is even harder.

  • The Test of Being a 'Teacher'

"Besides educational qualifications and a teaching license, the first thing a teacher must possess is morality, ethics, and professional conduct, such as a compassionate heart towards students, which is crucial in this line of work. Next, they must have knowledge relevant to the subjects they teach, and importantly, they need to understand child psychology, comprehend the changes children undergo at different developmental stages, and manage their own emotions as well."

In terms of teacher selection within the current Thai bureaucratic system, general abilities and subject-specific knowledge must pass written exams (Parts A and B). After achieving a score of at least 60%, candidates can then qualify for an interview (Part C), where they must present a portfolio detailing their educational history, achievements in their major, community engagement, and volunteer work, alongside their teaching abilities.

According to information from the Teachers' Council of Thailand, to be appointed as a civil servant teacher, one must hold a teaching license recognized by the council, which allows them to practice as a teacher—a regulated profession by law. Additionally, a teaching practice license serves as proof of the holder's qualifications according to the council's standards. After teaching continuously for at least one year, they can apply for a teaching license by submitting proof of teaching experience along with their teaching practice license, which is valid for two years and can be renewed.

However, in cases where individuals hold a teaching license but lack a professional teaching license, the council considers them unqualified for a teaching license or a teaching practice license. If a school finds it necessary to employ such individuals, they must seek permission from the council according to the Teacher and Educational Personnel Council Act of 2003. If they leave the school, the permission is revoked and cannot be used as evidence for teaching in other institutions.

Once candidates pass all three levels of examination, they will be placed on a list for teacher appointments. They will then undergo a performance evaluation for about two years while serving as a 'teacher assistant' to test their qualifications through actual work, similar to a probation period for company employees, differing only in duration.

  • 'Teachers' Who Shape Lives

The definition of the teaching profession is to cultivate good, quality individuals for society, which involves more than just imparting knowledge and caring for children. The saying that "being a teacher is a 24-hour job" reflects the reality of Thai teachers well, as they currently work in multiple dimensions, encompassing knowledge, ethics, and more.

"Teaching is a challenging profession because we are shaping individuals, and people are diverse. Solving one child's problem does not mean the same method will work for another. This is especially true for Thai teachers, who face additional responsibilities beyond teaching and caring for children, including administrative tasks and various paperwork, as well as extracurricular activities. There have been instances where teachers had to log hours for extra work, revealing that they often spend more time on non-teaching tasks than on actual teaching."

Teacher Doksohk continues, stating that after classes, some teachers must sit down to handle paperwork, such as administrative tasks and material requisitions, which can extend into the evening, not to mention social events and training sessions that teachers are required to attend almost every weekend.

Thai society expects that schools must encompass everything, with all activities converging at schools, whether it be temples, hospitals, or public health. When various activities arise, they often collaborate with schools, which is beneficial for children. However, this results in an overwhelming burden on teachers, leading to an increase in non-teaching responsibilities overshadowing their teaching duties.

"If teachers had ample time to teach fully and address each child's needs, the quality of education would improve, rather than squeezing teaching time or using free time for administrative tasks."

  • 'Teachers' Who Create Wounds

The teaching profession comes with many responsibilities, one of which is 'conduct.' Thai teachers are often expected to be respected figures. Therefore, causing physical and psychological harm to children is one of the most forbidden acts, such as sexual abuse and physical violence, both of which are serious offenses.

In the case of the teacher from the school currently in the news, Teacher Doksohk believes that parents at such private institutions have high expectations for their children to be in a good environment. However, this does not mean they should be overly pampered, as they spend hundreds of thousands to secure a good quality of life for their children. What occurred was excessively violent, and the school lacked proper management. If the administration had monitored the children's well-being through surveillance cameras, teachers would know how to behave appropriately.

"The actions taken by the teacher seemed normal, and what is concerning is that other teachers view this as normal as well. If we are licensed teachers and a teaching assistant behaves in such a manner, we must report it to the administration because actions like this towards children should never be considered normal. We must ask ourselves, if we are truly teachers, could we do that to a child? This has become a toxic organizational culture that we should not accept."

Nonetheless, punishing children is not something that should never be done, but it must not be driven by emotion over reason, and it should be context-appropriate without resorting to violence that causes injury. Especially for young children in kindergarten, psychological approaches to teaching are essential. Explaining inappropriate behavior helps children learn what not to do; otherwise, it can create emotional scars that affect their mental health and future development.

"Most reasons people punish children stem from self-centered thinking without justification. We have also disciplined children, as some can be quite stubborn. However, it is crucial that children understand what they did wrong. We should communicate with reason, avoiding violence, as it does not solve problems and instead instills a culture of violence in them."

Teacher Doksohk suggests that there are many other creative and constructive ways to discipline children that benefit both the child and society, such as picking up litter, sweeping the streets, cleaning classrooms, or participating in community service activities together.

"I once encountered a situation where a child damaged classroom equipment. Out of fear of punishment, no one admitted to it, so I had the whole class reflect together on who was responsible through community service. Eventually, they admitted it themselves, even though I already knew who it was because of the surveillance cameras. I wanted them to have the courage to admit their mistakes. Personal issues should not justify violent actions against a child. Everyone has problems in life, and children are not a dumping ground for those issues. If we say teachers are people and children are people, we are all human, and we have no right to harm others."

In addition to knowledge in the subjects taught, honesty, love, and compassion towards children, and faith in the teaching profession, another essential quality that a 'good teacher' and every profession should possess is 'self-control'—not using violence to solve problems and not considering teaching children through violence as a normal practice to be passed down.

SOURCE: www.bangkokbiznews.com