Are there any options to the Salesian School?

[Nille]

I have 3 kids at Yam Sa Art School and are looking at some thai options. I have friends that have their children at Salesian and are very happy with it and we are considering it from next term. One of the friends daughter actually went directly from Salesian to high school in Europe - including passing entrance examination. Can not be that bad? Math and English skills are normally superior compared to back home.

Now it seems pretty difficult to get the kids into Salesian so I am wondering if there is any option to it worth naming?

If someone reads this and can help out with the Salesian challenge don't hesitate to get in touch. I am open for any ideas to get them all in there smooth and nice.

[bcrglobal]

I won't discuss the situation at Salesian due to Thai laws, but from what I've heard it's not that difficult to get into Harry Potter's Hogwarts. The process allegedly goes as follows:

Hogwarts: I'm sorry, but our classes are all full, there is no room for new students.
Parent: Oh, that's a shame, I was looking forward to making a donation to the school.
Hogwarts: Oh, what type of donation were you interested in making?
Parent: Names a suitable amount (Don't know what this is--sorry)
Hogwarts: Well, actually there is one slot in each of your children's grade levels that has just opened up, what a coincidence!
Parent: How lucky! here's the school fees and a donation to the school.

[dtaai-maai]

[Takiap]

Aaaaaahhhhhhhh, but you missed one very important point............at least at Harry Potter's school, the donation is, in a way, optional, or at least it's structured to let you feel it's optional. The other schools such as the one mentioned by the OP, simply make the donation mandatory by adding it to the school fees. Either way, the kid's parents are going to be relieved of their money.

BTW OP, we also thinking of moving our kids there if we can. Apart from the standard of teaching, the school also offers quite a few activities which the kids can get involved in. Like you, I too have heard a lot of good reports regarding the school, and my wife and I both feel it's one of the best options we have.

Good luck, and let us know how you get along.

[Takiap]

Okay, contrary to some advice given by others on this thread, here is the process for getting your kids into Salesians School:


1. Go to the school and ask for application forms.
2. Complete all the forms, and attach copies of all the things they ask for, including ID size photos.
3. Return paperwork to the office and you'll be give a card with two dates on it.
4. On the first date provided, take the child/children for an interview.
5. On the second date provided, take the child/children for their entrance exam.
6. Wait a few days to find out if they've been accepted.

No bribes or donations necessary, and a very professional attitude in general.


My wife and I have just been through the process, and there were at least three kids there from Yamsahard (spelling????), and also a few from Somtawin.


I do have one question myself though, so if anyone can help, I'd be grateful......


I know Salesian School is essentially a Catholic school, but this being Thailand? I'm not actually interested in whether or not the kids are taught about Christianity, but I am hoping that religion of any kind takes a back seat. So, can anyone tell me what this school's attitude is towards religion. Are the kids subjected to religious brainwashing as they are in virtually all the schools here? I didn't see signs of this when I was walking around, as in there weren't statues and etc everywhere, and the impression I got was that not much emphasis is placed on religion. I can only hope this is true.


Any other comments/advice from parents who have kids in Salesians would also be welcomed.


Thanks

[dozer]

Both my kids attend Salesian and I have nothing but praise for the school and I have never felt that they were at anytime brainwashed with regards to religion.
The teachers seem genuinely interested in the kids and there is a very enthusiastic atmosphere.
All of my wives family have their kids attending, probably in the region of 30 kids and I can’t recall hearing that any of them ever having any issues with the school.

[Takiap]

Thanks Dozer......that's just what thought really. I have only heard good reports regarding the school, and to be honest, I was pleasantly amazed by the over standard of the facilities. Doing some research earlier, I've also read that the school has one of the highest rates in Thailand in terms of students going on to higher education.


Anyway, thanks for the reply.

[JimmyGreaves]

Just shows what a good Catholic education does for you.

I hope they encourage the children to goto mass regularly

[Noz]

Apart from the lack of an English program, we're very happy with Satukarn, and we've only ever heard good reports about it.

Okay, contrary to some advice given by others on this thread, here is the process for getting your kids into Salesians School.....My wife and I have just been through the process.

Takiap, looks like you've jumped ship from Satukarn? Was the lack of an English program the main reason or any other deciding factors?

[sandman67]

Hi there Nille

I cant comment directly on the Salesian school here but I did attend a Salesian school in the UK till the age of 18. The quality of eductation I recieved was second to none....its a core tennant of the Salesian order passed on by their founder St John Bosco that kids should receive the best education possible, albeit one wrapped around a Catholic upbringing.

Although we were required to be, on the outside at least, good Catholics and we attended a lot of school masses the religious education I received was mainly broad brush morality and ethics based stuff. I may have paid lip service to faith but never felt excluded when it became apparent early on (12 to 13) that I considered the faith aspects nonsense and thereafter didnt play along with the confession and communion parts of practicing the faith. When, in RE lessons I questioned the tenants of Catholicism and occasionally pointed out the contradictions I wasnt castigated or put down by the RE master.

I dont know how the Salesian system is applied here in Thailand. Id ask to look at how lessons are taught (thai schools prefer dumbass parrot fashion rote learning), whether kids are encouraged to think and reason for themselves and ask questions about what they are taught, and the quality of the teachers delivering the lessons.

Despite being a vocal atheist and comitted anti-theist Id happily consider sending my kids to a Salesian school.

[Takiap]

No Noz, I wouldn't really say we've jumped ship, but judging from some of the reports we've heard, Salesian is just a better school, and from what we can tell, the pupils aren't bombarded with religious brainwashing. The facilities at the school are also in a completely different league, and yet the school fees are not that much more. I can only assume the Catholic church pumps a lot of money into school.

Children at Salesian also have the opportunity to learn things like music, dancing, and martial arts. Anyway, we'll see how it goes, if our application is successful of course.

[jackichen]

Okay, contrary to some advice given by others on this thread, here is the process for getting your kids into Salesians School:


1. Go to the school and ask for application forms.
2. Complete all the forms, and attach copies of all the things they ask for, including ID size photos.
3. Return paperwork to the office and you'll be give a card with two dates on it.
4. On the first date provided, take the child/children for an interview.
5. On the second date provided, take the child/children for their entrance exam.
6. Wait a few days to find out if they've been accepted.

No bribes or donations necessary, and a very professional attitude in general.


My wife and I have just been through the process, and there were at least three kids there from Yamsahard (spelling????), and also a few from Somtawin.


I do have one question myself though, so if anyone can help, I'd be grateful......


I know Salesian School is essentially a Catholic school, but this being Thailand? I'm not actually interested in whether or not the kids are taught about Christianity, but I am hoping that religion of any kind takes a back seat. So, can anyone tell me what this school's attitude is towards religion. Are the kids subjected to religious brainwashing as they are in virtually all the schools here? I didn't see signs of this when I was walking around, as in there weren't statues and etc everywhere, and the impression I got was that not much emphasis is placed on religion. I can only hope this is true.


Any other comments/advice from parents who have kids in Salesians would also be welcomed.


Thanks

Great post! One of the things I like most about being a VA is that you are your own boss! You are able to choose the time you want to work, and how long you want to do it. But to become a successful VA, it is very important that you should have the right attitude in this profession

[dtaai-maai]

Jackichen - why don't you naff off and irritate some other forum?

I simply do not understand what these people think they're achieving. The only goal I can imagine is to drive everyone from internet forums.

[HHTel]

My daughters are attending Salesian and have done since Kindergarten. I have had issues with the school in the past mainly about their use of corporal punishment which is illegal here and has been for many years.
However, it is probably the best of the worst in Hua Hin and unless you have big bucks then there is no real competition.
My eldest daughter is about to go up to M4 which is classed as the first year of upper secondary school. Now we learn that not only does she have to do the long hours Monday thru Friday along with the usual mountains of homework, she now has to attend Saturday morning classes (compulsory). When she reaches M6 then it's compulsory all day Saturday. That's 6 full days per week. On top of that, she has to attend one month's Summer School during the main holiday (cost to the parents of course) as a prerequisite to moving up!!
Their mother and I went to the school yesterday to ask Fr Smith the reasoning behind the school policy of such extended hours. He wasn't available and we were told to come back at a later time. We duly went back to the school and waited outside his office. Eventually, he sent a teacher to see us saying that he refuses to meet or talk with us!!!! How very rude and unprofessional. He had the chance of giving us the reasons for this particular policy but refused point blank. We may even have agreed with him after listening to his views.
We spoke to a head teacher who pointed out that it was school policy. We asked him what happens at other schools. "I haven't a clue. I've no interest in what other schools do!" What an abismal and very shallow reply.
I will enrol her in M4 as in HH our options are somewhat limited. However, I'm very disappointed with the way the school has developed and now seem to be very much revenue oriented as opposed to education.
It's well known that the more hours you put on the students, the more detrimental it is to their learning.
Extra classes after school (paid for of course) only allows your child to get their homework done.
The extra time they now have to spend at school is an indictment on the quality of teaching but of course it does increase revenue.
The teachers teach by rote which is sometimes called 'Parrot fashion teaching' . Students are not encouraged to develop analytical and critical thinking skills, which is clearly demonstrated by their inability to complete a cloze test, or to grasp a notion through context. The teachers will avoid introducing dialogue into the classroom or eliciting response from the students as to give a wrong answer would be to lose face in the presence of one's peers, a situation that in Thai culture must always be avoided. But at the expense of the children's education. Rote teaching has no lasting benefits as there is no grounding to what they learn.
This is summed up by a quote by Professor Adith of Chulalungkorn University. He says that Thai teachers will not use any western methodology as it would require more creativity and initiative. "Thai kids have no courage to question their teachers… foreign students are very eager to communicate with their teachers. The Thais are usually silent in class. I think it's the culture. Our students tend to uphold teachers as demi-gods" — a perception that is reinforced by the celebration of wai khru (literally 'praise the teacher') day, in all schools and colleges shortly after the beginning of the new school year, where during a festive general assembly, the students file before the teachers on their knees and offer them gifts, usually of real or hand-crafted flowers.
The essence of education therefore still hinges first and foremost on the traditional values of Budhism, respect for the king, the monkhood, the teachers, and the family (in that order) through the rote method. Whilst indisputably very noble, these features are the main hurdle to the implementation of modern educational methodology and the development of a Western cultural approach to communication."
The prime minister said that teachers must radically change their way of thinking..... but I'm not sure they can do this.
Further points about this school which I'll bring up now because I'm furious.
My daughter had an English conversation exam last week. The THAI teacher gave her a 'C' and said that her accent wasn't good. English is my daughter's first language and people that know her would say that her English is outstanding.
The maths teacher in M3 refuses to take questions. If you don't understand, then tough. This same teacher puts the answers to his homework on his facebook page to be copied by selected members of his class. When he found out there were others copying from him, he blocked the ones he doesn't like.
Smacking with a ruler or 'mai' has always been a problem there. I've complained several times and Fr Smith has always agreed and promised that his teachers will be told. He even had an open school meeting with teachers and pupils pointing out that teachers are not allowed to use physical punishment on students. That was completely ignored by the teachers who continue to use physical punishment when they feel it's necessary.
I would say that the school is now a law unto itself. Has become insular to modern methodology. Takes no notice of the wealth of experience from around the world and doesn't even listen to their own peers in Thailand.
In 1997, Thailand was the leader in English in SE Asia. By 2002 it was overtaken by Laos and Vietnam and is now the second from bottom, ranked 54th out of 56th globally.
I doubt that anything will change in the foreseeable future.
That's the end of my rather long rant. Now I suppose I'll step back and go with the flow unfortunately.

[PeteC]

Another boy oh boy from me. I hope you can find a way to get her out of there ASAP, even if it means her taking a year off, saving money and then getting her into somewhere....maybe Bangkok if necessary. Then keeping fingers crossed you can keep up with the costs. That place is going to ruin her, and it's going to ruin your mentality and put your entire family on edge all the time. There may be a real risk involved that she'll simply drop out and disappear. Please watch out for those signs.

The entire scenario concerning the school is really unbelievable to me, but then again the government operates in the same fashion so I guess I shouldn't be surprised. I truly hope that you find a solution. Stay strong. Pete