Topic: Corporal Punishment and the foreigners

[SusanRichardson]

As some know, hitting students with "hickory sticks" aka bamboo sticks still exist in Thailand. Have any of you seen a foreign teacher using this method of discipline or shall we call it violence? Thanks. Susan

[luk ling]

Foreign teachers? No, and as most Govt schools have a policy that foreign teachers cannot even discipline students, I doubt anyone else has.
Thai teachers? Countless times. Most schools have a discipline officer. IME they are just nasty little fuckers who enjoy bullying people. More than once I've had to grip my desk to stop myself snatching the stick and beating the shit out of them. On the other hand, there's more then once I've wanted to use their stick on an exceptionally unruly student (but wanting to and actually doing it are a long way from each other).

[SusanRichardson]

More than once I've had to grip my desk to stop myself snatching the stick and beating the shit out of them.

If it makes your day, an incident occured last year and the foreigner took the stick away from the assigned stickman and broke it half, in front of him and the students he was about to strike. The foreigner is gone but for other reasons.

I asked intially because, once again, the "non-native" aka foreigners are using sticks as a threat more than actual. I was ridiculed in the other discussion for even suggesting skin color or they were trying "harder" to fit in with the Thai staff.

cheers mate, did you see the French early this morning? Susan

[kenkannif]

I'm pretty sure it's illegal for even Thais to do it nowadays (although they do).

I know a Westerner who accidentally (and it was) 'hit' a kid....cost him 10K!

[ajarnnormal]

It is a definate 'no no'. Just don't do it even if your not sure.

[kenkannif]

LoL not sure about what???

[Uncle Che]

No problem with a stick. Yeah, I think some of the Filipinos get away with it and let me tell you what? Western teachers could get away with it if they wanted to. But directors are out after money and keeping the students happy get them more money.

These schools bring in foreign teachers and try to sell a western education to the parents but then refuse to give the teachers any tools. The best tool a teacher in a western country has in their arsenal is the ability to fail a student. The best tool a western teacher has in Thailand is the ability to smile to the student.

[ajarnnormal]

Not sure if you can belt their ear or not. Uncle Che has hit the nail on the head. Smile is what we have to do. Keep the customer satisfied. School is like one big youth club for them. they cry when they leave for the big world. I could not wait to get out of my school. After my GCE's i was ready to hit the road and no tears.

[kenkannif]

^ Def not allowed mate legally.

Then again I got slapped a few times in the UK when it was illegal.

[ajarnnormal]

Yes but this is not the UK. If you slap them expect to get slapped back with a fine or the sack. the sooner teachers get used to the idea they are not in the UK or any other country but Thailand they will enjoy it or hate it here. If it is the latter get out.

[NukeThemSlowly]

It seems to me that the spirit of the website, for better or worse, is kind of contrary to Ajarnnormal's "if you don't like it, then leave" mantra.  The existence of a site like this is designed to put pressure on those who employ us to change in ways we view as favourable.  This is a natural result of capitalism- they change us AND we change them.  Those who don't like it are free to offer their unpaid services as slaves, which is the long-range plan for those who refuse to stand up for themselves. 

Furthermore, I'd say corporal punishment is probably more common here than it is in the English speaking world, legal or not, therefore it is more "Thai" in nature, for what it's worth.

[ajarnnormal]

Maybe it is "Thai" but least we forget we are not "Thai". We are strangers in a strange land. We stand out like a sore thumb and are watched by the "Thai" powers that be. Is it worth giving them more bullets to fire at us. I think not.

[NukeThemSlowly]

I'm not calling for more corporal punishment from foreigners, actually (and I don't think anyone here really is, though it's sweet of you to stand up for the Thais on this non-issue).

[Harry]

I don't believe that anything positive has ever been achieved by hitting a kid, it's simply the last resort of a cowardly bully.

I firmly believe that anyone who does strike a child, especially a so-called teacher, should be sent to the BKK Hilton for a minimum period of 12 months hard labour... at the very least.

[blackmail]

"spanking" is different than "hitting."