There is such thing as a stupid question

There is such thing as a stupid question

They say there is no such thing as a stupid question. Idiomatically speaking, this adage may be true but, for Thai textbooks, there may be some, in a literal sense.

A screengrab of a page from a teacher's book on Thai history for Prathom 5 students (11 years old) went viral for all the wrong reasons earlier this week. Originally posted by a Facebook user by the name of Mod Chonlapruek, it shows a picture of female singer and actress Kulamas "Knomjean" Sarasas next to an unflattering question.

The picture was taken when she was 13 and in it she has coloured messy hair, a short-sleeve T-shirt, a loose tie and necklace, with several bangles on one wrist and a long glove on the other hand. I would say she channelled Harajuku punk girl realness in that picture. The question next to her picture asks, "Students, do you think this culture [that inspired the outfit] appropriate for Thai people or not and why?"

The teacher's book showed the suggested "answer" in pink. And -- shock, horror! -- the answer is that the outfit is "inappropriate because it doesn't look polite".

Knomjean is understandably upset for being immortalised as a negative example without her consent. In her IG caption, she explained that she dressed that way in her role as a singer for her debut single and it wasn't immodest for a 13-year-old girl. She also disliked the way the question forced students to think in a certain way and added that had the question been more thought-out, like asking if her outfit is appropriate for school, she wouldn't mind it as much.

My first question is: Why should a history book be suggesting or questioning the appropriateness of a person's outfit? The second: How can a book or its author decide what people should consider appropriate within their own culture?

Those who are behind the book obviously passed judgement on Knomjean but students may not agree with it. Also, the question didn't provide additional contexts such as occasion or place. Because if a girl dressed like that at a mall, I don't think anyone would raise an eyebrow. I don't want to accuse anyone of being misogynistic but why did the book only have a picture of her? They couldn't find a pair of male and female rockers to villainise?

Countless Thai netizens also have a lot of questions with this question as they think it teaches kids to judge people based on their appearance.

If we're going by the book's standards, we have other examples of people who dress inappropriately. Should Khunying Dr Pornthip Rojanasunant be able to attend a Parliament meeting as one of our 250 esteemed senators with her multi-coloured hair and colourful fashion?

Also, back in the day didn't Thai women go topless as shown on temple murals and in old photographs? If we're going to be authentic about our roots, then shouldn't we advocate the #freenipples movement for Thai women? Or should we all go back to wearing traditional Thai attire?

Besides using her picture without permission and out of context, the team behind the book is also wrong for enforcing a rigid view on how women or any Thais should dress. As a globalised Thai, you should be free to adopt certain aspects of foreign cultures if you want to. We're living in 2020, after all.

Time and again, questionable Thai textbooks are circulated online as they indoctrinate outdated and rigid viewpoints or perpetuate discriminatory attitudes towards women and the LGBTQ community. This silly question is just the tip of the iceberg.

How can anyone consider themselves an educator when they come in with a fixed mindset on things and expect children to follow suit. Thai education needs reform and it may as well start with ignorant textbooks (and those who're responsible for them). No offence to good teachers out there.

Pornchai Sereemongkonpol

Guru section Editor

Guru section Editor

Email : pornchais@bangkokpost.co.th

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