*QL-ED*: Fwd: THAILAND: Gay teachers barred from teachers college
---- Begin Forwarded Message
From: Nath <nath@loxinfo.co.th>
To: khush@store-forward.mindspring.com
Subject: News from Thailand
The following is extracted from the Bangkok Post 28 Jan 97.
SCHOOL HEADS BACK HOMOSEXUAL BAN
********************************
School administrators favour the Rajabhat Institute's policy of
not accepting homosexuals into its teacher training faculty.
Adirek Rattanathanya, chairman of the Association of Secondary
School Administrators of Thailand, said yesterday the association
committee has agreed with the institute's policy to ban "sexually
deviant" people from its 36 campuses.
Homosexuals are not suitable for teaching jobs, said Mr Adirek,
suggesting they enroll in other fields of study which do not have
strict moral codes for its students.
BAN ON GAY TEACHER TRAINESS NEEDS TO BE REVISED
***********************************************
(Comment by Pichai Chuensuksawadi, Thailand).
Similarities exist between the manner in which Prime Minister
Chavalit Yongchaiyudh handled the Nong Ngu hao debacle and Education
Minister Sukhavich Rangsitpo;s defence of the ridiculous decision to
ban homosexuals from teacher training at Rajabhat Institute campuses.
Each time both men speak on the respective issues, they dig a
deeper hole for themselves. There is, however, one crucial difference
between the two.
By refraining from further comment, Gen Chavalit will probably
salvage some face by allowing the issue to blur and muddle in the best
of Thai political tradition. On the other hand, Minister Sukhavich
continues to make a laughing stock of himself as he tries to justify
the ban or come up with a solution following increasing criticism.
Homosexuals, according to Minister Sukhavich, are bad role
models for students. They are 'sick physically and mentally", like drug
addicts, and "need treatment". And as long as homosexual trainess
"conceal their deviant characteristics and behaviour", they should not
have any problem with the ban.
But as criticism intesified last week, Minister Sukhavich
floated a new idea- setting up a special education centre for
homosexual teacher trainess because they could not be left without
anywhere to go otherwise they might end up "adding male prostitutes to
society".
The rationale behind the ban to be enforced at all Rajabhat
campuses this May, and the minister's defence of it, is simply
ludicrous. The ban was put in place following the recent murder of a
female student in Chiang Mai by her transvestite friend. What the
powers-that-be failed to mention was that there have been many
instances of "straight" male teachers accused of sexually molesting or
raping their students.
Although there are supporters of the ban, it clearly
discriminates against homosexual, many of whom are capable and
knowledgeable. And if they want to play a meaningful role shaping the
youth of our society, they should not be barred from doing so because
of their sexual preferences.
No one would argue with an effort to put in place a screening
process that ensures that the right kind of people are trained to
become teachers. Persons with mental problems or who are prone to
violent physical behaviour must be weeded out of the system. But to
assume that only teachers can influence the future behaviour of
children is erroneous.
Teachers can and do play a crucial role. Dr Jom Chumchuay of
the Child Psyciatric Hospital hit the nail right on the head by saying
that families and parents, on the whole, play a major role in
inflencing a person's behaviour with the most important period being
between the ages of
three and six.
The Education Minister should revise this policy. He does not
need to make an unequivocal reversal but can fudge it as most
politicians do. We don't mind because we are all quite used to it.
===========================================================================
= To post to the list, email QUEERLAW@abacus.oxy.edu =
===========================================================================
Partial thread listing: