Happier Teachers, Better Education

From The Nation, published 27 January 2008:

Along with better pay, the limits on working hours and class size will give a boost to the ongoing reform

Published on January 27, 2008

An important part of the ongoing education reform is the gradual adjustment of salaries and allowances linked to professional competence and specialised responsibilities, which is aimed at improving the socio-economic standing of government-employed teachers relative to members of other professions, and to keep them motivated.

The rationale is that teachers are at the forefront of the effort to transform the country’s outdated, inefficient and poorly-run educational system into a progressive, adaptable and well-functioning one. As such they deserve to make a decent living that is commensurate with their dedication in educating the young.

Parliament Elect Samak as New Prime Minister

From The Nation, published 28 January 2008:

People Power Party’s leader Samak Sundaravej is elected as the 25 th prime minister of Thailand on Monday.

Samak beat Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva, nominated to be the candidate for the premiership by his party’s former leader Banyat Bantatthan, with 310 to 163 in the voting in the Parliament.PPP’s Secretary General Surapong Suebwonglee nominated Samak as the candidate..

The result of the voting showed that three MPs abstained including Samak and Abhisit and one was absent.

The roll call voting was held after MPs disputed for 2 hours and 40 minutes as to whether each candidate for the prime minister, should be allowed to address their policies.

After this, House Speaker Yongyuth Tiyapairat will propose Samak for Royal endorsement. Samak then will form the his government.

Ten Thousand Tracks Played

I just played track number 10,000 according to my account at Last.fm. The song was “Khun pun satarn pandin” (ขุนพันธ์สะท้านแผ่นดิน), the second track on disc 2 of the latest Carabao studio album, 25 Pee Loong Kee Mao (อัลบั้ม 25 ปี ลุงขี้เมา) released in September 2007. What’s especially remarkable is that I logged song number 5,000 just over one month ago on Christmas Day. Those first five thousand took a bit under four months to accomplish.

Passing By My Old Blogs

I’ve been a part of the blogosphere for three-and-a-half years now. I was definitely the most prolific writing my first blog, the original ‘Burque Blog, where I posted 393 entries from June 2004 through the end of February 2005. I resided in Albuquerque, New Mexico, at the time hence the name. BTW, I lived in the Northeast Heights section of that city (on the lower slopes of the Sandia Mountains) so that explains the subtitle. The blog received some 2000 hits before I moved it to a new domain.

End of Mourning Sparks New Header

My school has ended it’s mandatory mourning dress code for teachers — yellow shirts can now once again be worn to work on Mondays — with the conclusion of the initial 15-day period of sorrow for the passing of HRH Princess Galyani Vadhana. Although we are still within the voluntary 100-day mourning (and the cremation has yet to occur), I have decided to remove the black bands and ribbon from Baan Jochim Phuket and add a more traditional header.

Thai Word of the Day #4: moo-waan (หมหวาน - sweet pork)

This is starting to turn into more of a Thai “food-of-the-day” feature but my wife brought home a container of หมหวาน (mŏo-wăan, “sweet pork”) the other day and I just had to blog about it!

My new favorite Thai snack (or meal, as the case may be) is made from pork belly, palm sugar (quality brown sugar can also be substituted), and fish sauce (a substitution could be made using soy sauce) it is served on a bed of sticky rice (which, in turn, sits on a banana leaf). The portions I’ve had are very thin and stringy, reminding me of teriyaki-flavored beef jerky strips from the Southwestern US. Yum!

Best Field Trip Ever? (A Visit to Sribhurapa Orchid Cashew Nut Factory)

This past Thursday, my school’s four Primary 3 classes visited local industry Sri Bhurapa Orchid Co. Ltd. located on Thanon Kwang just south of Phuket Town.

The day began with the morning assembly during which my P3 Yellow class won awards for Morals and Discipline. This meant that the other teachers in the school voted for my class as the best behaved, both in the classroom and in the common areas. Certificates were awarded to one boy and one girl representing the students, as well as to our Thai and homeroom teachers. A nice way to begin a field trip day…

In Bangkok, It’s A Tough Life for Elephants

From International Herald-Tribune, published 13 January 2008:

By Thomas Fuller
Sunday, January 13, 2008

BANGKOK: Of all the illegal activities that animate the streets of Bangkok - the vendors who hawk pirated DVDs and fake watches, the brothels that call themselves saunas - one stands out more than others.

Elephants are not supposed to saunter down the city’s streets as they do almost every night. For at least two decades the giant gray beasts have plodded through this giant gray city, stopping off at red-light districts and tourist areas where their handlers peddle elephant snacks of sugar cane and bananas to passers-by.

Occasionally the elephants knock off the side-view mirrors from cars or stumble into gutters and cut themselves on sharp objects.

The police shrug, politicians periodically order crackdowns and animal lovers despair.

Ayutthaya Under Threat of Delisting by UNESCO

From Bangkok Post, published 16 January 2008:

APINYA WIPATAYOTIN

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) will soon send experts to evaluate the status of the world heritage sites in Thailand.

Speculation has it that the historic city of Ayutthaya might be delisted as a world heritage site by Unesco.

Untidiness around the historical site and poor city planning has triggered concern among relevant agencies that the site would no longer meet the standards set for it to retain its status.

Thailand Downplays Row Over Preah Vihear

From Bangkok Post, published 26 January 2008:

WASSANA NANUAM & THANIDA TANSUBHAPOL

In a bid to downplay conflicts surrounding the Preah Vihear temple on the Thai-Cambodian border, Defence Minister Boonrawd Somtas said Thailand had decided not to protest against Cam-bodia’s unilateral move to have the ancient temple ruins listed as a World Heritage site.

The minister said it was a misunderstanding on the part of defence spokesman Pichasanu Putchakarn and his statement was personal, not the resolution of the Defence Council.

”It is not a resolution of the Defence Council. It was just an internal meeting of agencies concerned to assess the situation. It was not intended to be announced and the information [given by the defence spokesman] was incorrect and included personal views,” Gen Boonrawd said yesterday.