The good, bad and the ugly
Postbox letter from Ian
I am lucky enough to be teaching some students that are, not only bright, but show signs of free thinking and a desire to expand their boundaries. I don't and will not pass every student, and if it costs me my job, who cares?
Why?
Standing up for the teaching profession, and the complicity of silence.
“Someone wrote on your blog that you are 'dangerous'. I say you are a neurotic loose canon and a liability for a school, working with children”
The harsh reality
Postbox letter from Ralph Sasser
When a student inevitably fails the semester final exam and/or has poor grades, the foreign teacher is instructed to dumb down the exam and let the student retake it so he/she will get a passing grade or retake it several times if necessary. If the teacher refuses to give the exam until the student passes, the foreigner teacher is deemed incompetent and terminated.
Wisdom
Postbox letter from M.Benson
I want to home in on one very specific aspect of education within Thailand – namely, the prevailing approach to utilizing teachers. From what I have observed this country has moved strongly toward what I perceive, again, as an essentially money obsessed , cheap is better hiring scheme.
Leave teaching in Thailand to the hacks
This is all just ridiculous
I no longer teach ESL classes to Thai school students. I will never again work for another Thai boss. I now work for a Chinese man with Thai citizenship (caters to the Taiwanese test prep market) and a pair of foreigners. If you're smart and resourceful enough, there are thousands of opportunities out there
A Sad Story
Postbox letter from Apso Olivier
The school system is wonderful. Teacher Jones’ status in the community is high, and she makes sure that all the students pass her course
Thailand's factory education model producing disappointing results
Postbox letter from John Weathers
Factory model schools put pressure on teachers to let students hand in very late work or redo exams many times until they get a passing grade.
Welcome to the Thailand Educators Network (TEN)
What's coming up in our teachers' evenings this year?
Set up to create an environment in which educators can meet to discuss and explore professional and personal concerns and to establish a positive forum for the enhancement of teaching and teaching opportunities in Thailand, we meet every month, on or close to the 10th at the Roadhouse Barbecue.
Lost Stories
Experiences with one of Thailand’s most progressive educators
He single-handedly broke every stereotype of the Ministry of Education. He was outgoing, inquisitive, articulate, globally aware, and willing to debate ideas about education. I resolved to formally interview this man one day and tell his story.
Goodbye Thailand
It's definitely time to leave
So the question remains why? Why leave Thailand, the Land of Smiles, the best country in the world if Thais are to be believed? The short answer is that I didn't have enough reasons to stay.
