Float school fees fan

Re: "Wealth for education", (PostBag, June 22).

I agree with Burin Kantabutra that Thai schools should be allowed to float fees for their services according to market demand.

Better yet, each school -- public or private -- should be required to have a committee delegated to receive donations from well-to-do parents for a school's development.

In the US, when students from super-rich families have trouble getting into, or land in trouble as a result of their bad behaviour while studying in prestigious schools, their parents often make donations of as much as US$20 or 30 million -- sometimes even more -- and the kids' trouble is solved happily.

In our country, so long as fees and donations go directly to the school coffers -- not into the hands of any particular official -- such a practice should be encouraged.

In Thailand, Buddhist temples are allowed to receive donations freely and without any government oversight. Why can't our cash-strapped schools do the same, provided they do it within the realm of the law?

And wouldn't that solve our country's educational woes by much?

Vint Chavala
Overhaul education

Re: "Decentralisation a cure to education woes", (Opinion, June 22).

I fully agree that decentralisation of education should be treated as an urgent matter. The ongoing crisis in Thai education raises serious questions about the priorities of the current regime. The Thai educational system has evolved around the "carrot and stick" method used by Ministry of Education for decades. Over time the ministry's "stick" of excessive control has gone dry and dead and the "carrots" are relished and consumed by corrupt officials.

Like so many other state agencies, the ministry has become a monopoly. This "too big to fail" bureaucracy continues to craft meaningless regulations and policies.

Good education comprises three components: A well-crafted curriculum, dynamic teaching methods and superb teachers. Managing these three components in a local context will be more efficient than the current practice of "one size fits all".

At this stage, it should be very clear that the top-down system of managing education has completely failed. Autonomy is the key to creating good alternatives to the current Thai educational system, especially in rural areas. The time has come to realise that the increasingly complex and inter-dependent AEC requires a complete overhaul of the Thai educational system, starting at the top with the Ministry of Education.

Kuldeep Nagi
Clash of civilisations

London has borne the recent brunt of the mass murders committed by Islamic jihadists. They have proven formidable opponents that have perpetrated increasingly sophisticated, unpredictable and evasive attacks on major western targets since Sept 11. The sincerest form of flattery is the imitation of jihadi violence by opponent vigilantes. A rogue driver acting alone attacking Muslims leaving a London mosque merely represents the apex of the current torrent of retribution against innocent Muslims who live in the West.

Isaac Newton's "to every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction" in "The Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy" could well apply to the this moment in fractious modern human history. The time is ripe for Samuel Huntington's "clash of civilisations," a religious conflagration that is likely to consume the world at large.

In the near future, it would not surprise me to hear of revenge attacks by Western fanatics inflicted upon local communities who resided within the home territories of Muslim terrorists. The 50th anniversary of the Six Day War, which birthed the ongoing struggle between Israel and the Palestinians, reminds us that violence could only beget more violence in a tragically endless cycle.

Joseph Ting
Police 'brilliance'

Re: "Pheu Thai ex-MP sought in murder case", (BP, June 22).

Once again the absolute brilliance of the Thai police shines through the fog. Advertising that an arrest warrant is going to be issued somehow is akin to sending a telegram to the suspect to leave town before he is sought out. Thaksin, Watana, "Boss" Yoovidhya, those monks who bilked the public, all the same.

Somehow, keeping one's mouth shut and one's actions to one's self is beyond the capability of the Royal Thai Police. It reminds me of the "fish story", telling everyone about the one that got away. However, I'm sure there will be plenty of photo-ops later. Smile guys, you are on live TV.

David James Wong
Monitoring justice

If the Justice Ministry is to oversee the police, according to a Nida Poll, who is to oversee the Justice Ministry?

Overseer Mango
Help a great library

The Neilson Hays Library in Bangkok is truly an architectural gem. It is currently undergoing repair and restoration and is in need of further donations in order to complete this task.

A cash donation of any amount at the library or via bank transfer to Kasikornbank account number 023-161213-0, Bangkok Bank 118-534071-6, or Siam Commercial Bank 002-308557-6 will be gratefully appreciated. After making the transfer, please send an email with an attachment of the payment slip along with personal information to restoration@neilsonhayslibrary.com to receive a receipt and reward. Rewards include:

Adopt a shelf of books with a donation of 10,000 baht.

Become a 20-year member with a donation of 50,000 baht.

Become a lifetime member with a donation of 100,000 baht.

If the library meets 200% of its goal -- one million baht -- it will offer supporters an invitation for a guided tour once the library is finished. If the library meets 400% -- two million baht -- guided tours will be offered and invitations to its grand reopening after the restoration is completed.

Any donation, large or small, is greatly appreciated.

Ian Martin
No fear of reprisal

Re: "PM's question time", (Opinion, June 23).

To answer Farang Observer's simplistic and easy questions:

1. Is the Thai government supposed to be run by the police? No! Heaven forbid.

2. Is the Thai government supposed to be run by the military? Yes. Why not? They have been doing a better job than politicians so far.

3. Is the Thai government supposed to be run by officials elected by the people? To be honest, I'm sick and tired of them. But when the time comes that the current government can reform the political system up to a point, I guess I'll have to let it finally happen.

4. Is there anyone out there who can answer these questions without fear of reprisal from one or more of the subjects involved? I am answering your questions, am I not? Even if I answer these mundane questions the way you hope I would, I still don't understand why I should fear any reprisal from anyone.

Kantanit Sukontasap
Sore Democrat losers

Re: "Damage has been done", (PostBag, June 19).

Does Khun Vint really believe that the United States does not spy on its adversaries? They even hacked into the private mobile phone of the German chancellor!

It's a great disappointment to see the Democrats unable to accept defeat; they burn vehicles, loot stores and even kill, all because they did not vote for the democratically elected president.

Shame on them and, by their actions, let's thank goodness they did indeed lose the election and to a man of principle who keeps his word which is a world away from the usual "swamp" of American politics!

Chris Anderton
Regime apologist?

David James Wong (PostBag, June 22) asks after Hanoi Jane and Pyongyang Dennis. What can we expect next? How about Bangkok David since he's been a key apologist for the current Thai government.

Eric Bahrt
Trump whiners, stop!

A note to the incessant Trump whiners. If you want to "Make America Great Again", then do something. Reading your constant whining, the SOS, (not Save Our Ship), over and over and over again in PostBag, courtesy of the Bangkok Post, is becoming a bit monotonous.

I have a red Trump cap with the emblazoned logo, "Make America Great Again". It can be taken both ways.

Jingle Bell
Dumb and dumber

Proof positive that the USA has some of the dumbest people in the world. Don't get me wrong, they may have some of the dumbest people there, but that does not mean they are Americans.

In reading the story "Durant leads Warriors to glory over Cavaliers", June 14, it says "Two courtside seats reportedly went for US$133,000 on the resale market, while other pairs of seats went for $82,000 and $90,000".

Now, I am not rich, nor am I an expert, but I sure can tell the difference between dumb and dumber.

Help me out here. Please tell me these tickets were sold to a Saudi, or someone from Qatar.

Charlie Brown
Glorifying Hillary

Re: "Not buying it", (PostBag, June 23).

What damage? Eric Bahrt, in his obsessive hatred for Donald Trump, does not hesitate to glorify Hillary Clinton, the main architect of the murder of Moammar Gadhafi whose country Libya, did not pose a military threat to the US, and John McCain who entertains in Washington DC the likes of Abdelhakim Belhaj, the IS leader in Libya. Face it Eric, it's been almost six months and DJT is still your president, whether you like it or not.

Clara Holzer
Forest negligence

Re: "Teak trees swiped from forest reserves", (BP, June 21).

This report shows negligence on the part of state officials. That amount of trees cannot disappear overnight. The officials failed in their duty. Not to mention that some of them might have colluded with the wrongdoers in issuing land classification documents.

RH SugaLamphun

Dangerous installation

 

With the Bangkok Post headline "DNA shows Watana a serial bomber", and various other bomb incidents in Thailand and the rest of the world, who on earth at the BTS thought it was a good idea to instal "safe, secure" yellow lockers in densely populated locations, Sala Daeng and the MRT Silom, Asok/Sukhumvit? Is this crazy, naive or really only for monetary gain? The mind boggles.

Try contacting BTS security and the response is nothing!

ConcernedBangkok resident

Let's go Mediterranean

 

Thailand could do well to embrace the Mediterranean style of wine and food. Thailand has the food and it is a shame to see many young Thais dining with vodka in huge containers on the tables. Wine needs to have tariffs reduced and promoted as a part of the great food we love here. Spirits are a cheaper choice than wine and that should be reviewed .

Embracing a wining and dining culture would be good for locals and tourism.

Stuart Davie

British embassy shame

 

Isn't it a shame that the British government will now be totally abandoning the embassy grounds in Ploenchit, probably for a dour, dull, grey office block in some traffic-snarled part of town?

Most Brits will regret this decision by the civil servants in Croydon and Whitehall and I will too, having worked there as vice-consul and having brought up three children on this wonderful verdant site.

When I see the plans for the pleasing "green" new Austrian Embassy -- and after all this time the magnificent embassies of France and Portugal still proudly sitting on the banks of the Chao Phraya River as they have been for more than two centuries, I do think that the bean-counters in UK have got this wrong. Taxpayers' money saved they say -- perhaps, but there is much more than a loss of aesthetic pride for many Brits who live here and those Brits, Thais and the Gurkhas who were happy and privileged to have worked at the British Embassy, Ploenchit.

So, thank you to the Nai Lert family for your gift to us which we used for just a little less than 100 years. Apparently, we must sell this now incredibly valuable real estate! In bidding a heartfelt farewell we leave liberal concepts of style, grace and green space to the French, Portuguese and Austrians.

Lem MorganNonthaburi
Fill in the blank

Germany had the Hitler youth and Thailand has the __ youth. The readers can fill in the blank.

Pete
23 Jun 2017 23 Jun 2017
25 Jun 2017 25 Jun 2017

SUBMIT YOUR POSTBAG

All letter writers must provide a full name and address. All published correspondence is subject to editing at our discretion

SEND