Somtawin School. 80,000baht year. scabies. no toilets filth.

[Big Boy]

Pete,

Maybe you're right about the house purchase, but I want to make sure he flies the nest. At this stage it is only an option, and I certainly wouldn't be rushing in to buying him a house. However, he's going to inherit the money eventually, so why not just try to make his life just that little bit better, a bit sooner?

The point I was trying to make was that in the UK most kids are really going to struggle to get on the property ladder. We have vital services over here suffering because they can't employ the right people because the right people can't afford housing in those areas. House prices in the UK do not look as if they're going to fall. If my son stays in the UK, he really will need a major handout to get him started.

Don't forget, what I was saying was in response to lomuamart's question,

Why would any parent want to move from farangland and bring their kids over here as well?

I am trying to make the point that in my personal view, the future for most kids in the UK is not that great.

Don't get me wrong, I've had a happy life in the UK. However, things are changing at such a rate of knots, Thailand seems to be a much better prospect, at least for my son. If he fulfils his ambitions, and takes the available opportunities that he can see ahead of him, I think he will not regret the move. Certainly, the odds of him achieving his goals are greater in Thailand than in the UK.

[PeteC]

You're right, sorry. I did take a small piece out of your reply, out of context to Lomu's post and your overall thoughts.

Evolution of humans, and governments who conrol them be as it may, it always seems harder when we see our kids striking out on their own, than it was for us. But, everyone seems to talk about "the good old days" once they get older...even us. You're son will also! Pete

[Thaiclan]

There are many reasons, here are some of ours when we brought our young children here 4 years ago:
Quality of life.
When my kids finish school we can swim, go to beach, cycle. The weather is warm enough even if it is dark.
Economically
We can easily afford EVERYTHING for our kids, clothes, toys, books, entertainment, big house with pool etc
Socially
Our kids have a much more cosmopolitan set of friends.
We can undertake real charity projects rather than just dropping some coins into a box.

Also because my husband and I are much less stressed living in Thailand with such a high standard of living this translates into a much less stress childhood for our kids. We don't have to drag them around the supermarkets quickly as we have to get home for dinner before Eastenders is on!! Sometimes we mooch around Tesco's for ages checking out the toys and bikes etc. I could never have done that in the UK as I would be to concerned about getting the chores done, kids to bed and up for work in the morning.

Another bug bear I have about the UK is the TV. Kids watch far too much. Here we have UBC and there is only 1 English kids channel Cartoon Network, It carries no adverts or commercialism and that that translates into kids that do not use the "I want" everytime we walk into a toy store.

Aside from Hua Hin there are some excellent schools with over 90% of kids moving on to university. You cannot hope for that in the UK state schools.

[exman]

I agree with your thoughts but its only in the real life we now how to act so we always have our needs and dreams involved in what we do and thinking.
I have only one goal-to give my child the best start of their lives in this country what yhey really needs and wants.
And I hope they want to grab it.......


Exmans thoughts

[DawnHRD]

There are many reasons, here are some of ours when we brought our young children here 4 years ago:
Quality of life.
When my kids finish school we can swim, go to beach, cycle. The weather is warm enough even if it is dark.
Economically
We can easily afford EVERYTHING for our kids, clothes, toys, books, entertainment, big house with pool etc
Socially
Our kids have a much more cosmopolitan set of friends.
We can undertake real charity projects rather than just dropping some coins into a box.

Also because my husband and I are much less stressed living in Thailand with such a high standard of living this translates into a much less stress childhood for our kids. We don't have to drag them around the supermarkets quickly as we have to get home for dinner before Eastenders is on!! Sometimes we mooch around Tesco's for ages checking out the toys and bikes etc. I could never have done that in the UK as I would be to concerned about getting the chores done, kids to bed and up for work in the morning.

Another bug bear I have about the UK is the TV. Kids watch far too much. Here we have UBC and there is only 1 English kids channel Cartoon Network, It carries no adverts or commercialism and that that translates into kids that do not use the "I want" everytime we walk into a toy store.

Aside from Hua Hin there are some excellent schools with over 90% of kids moving on to university. You cannot hope for that in the UK state schools.

All I can say, Thaiclan is you (& many of the members who are proposing to move out here) are in a preferable situation ( I was going to say "lucky", but I'm aware that all of you have probably worked very hard to get the standard of life you are talking about, so it's not "luck" at all.) For those of us that have been here some time, it may not be the same standard of life. I'd love to give my 5 yr old some of the things you mentioned. I'd love to give him something other than a tired & stressed mummy who is still trying to fit everything into the day, the same as you did in UK. I can't take too much time in Tesco, because he wants things I can't always afford to give him, although he is very good when I say "no".
I hope, whatever his standard of life, he realises that I love him & do the best I can for him. And if his education has to be second or third best because I simply cannot afford better, I hope, in his later life, he doesn't hold it against me.

[Big Boy]

lomuamart asked:

Why would any parent want to move from farangland and bring their kids over here as well?

Now that you've received a few honest answers, maybe you could qualify your original question by explaining why it needed to be asked in the first place ie why shouldn't a parent move from Farangland to Thailand bringing their kids with them?

[lomuamart]

lomuamart asked:

Why would any parent want to move from farangland and bring their kids over here as well?

Now that you've received a few honest answers, maybe you could qualify your original question by explaining why it needed to be asked in the first place ie why shouldn't a parent move from Farangland to Thailand bringing their kids with them?

And in answer to that, I was only asking a question. That's all.
The replies so far have been brilliant.
Everyones' reason for coming here are different.
If there are children involved, even more so.
More power to you all.

[Big Boy]

lomuamart,

Thanks for that - quite a relief. I had to ask, but was dreading your reply, expecting 101 reasons why I shouldn't do it, which could have made me seriously re-consider.

[James61]

I went for a look and my nice old cleaning lady was telling the truth this time and there was 3 yellow machines working on building a wide road into that site.
Hopefully they pay of the right people and build it quick.

[Jaquline]

Yes yes, i totally agree with you Exman.
I think that all farangs here in Hua-hin wants a better international school, but as said in the school there will be an new school, real international school for kids next year.
but until then we just have to survive with what we have got.
Now ofcourse we want new and better things in HH as we evolve into a more techological city, but LIFE ISN'T PERFECT!!!!
So like i said before, we just have to stand out a little bit more.

My point of view/

[Bamboo Grove]

My daughters are in the Thai section. It was good in the beginning i.e. kindergarten but has gone worse now. They are in grade 2 now. Not so long ago the kids were asked if they wanted to study an extra hour after the normal school hours. As I had some not so good experiences about this from last year, I asked my daughters to ask the teachers what was included in this special course as it would naturally cost extra. The answer was: reading books, doing home work and cleaning the class room. Why would I pay extra for this? They read and do their homework at home without any extra costs and as for cleaning the classroom, although I agree it's good to teach them to be responsible for the cleanness of their environment, shouldn't that be taught to all of them and without any extra cost?

Next came a question if they could take extra swimming lessons on Saturdays. This time I didn't even want to ask too many questions. Yesterday I took them to Sport Villa for couple of hours and plan to do so in the future as well. Oh well.

[troopie]

I once taught at Samroiyod School. It is a government school & so facilities are very limited. However, from what I have seen or heard, it is miles better than any government school in HH -- especially Hua Hin High School, which is as close to being a ghetto school as you'll find here -- gangs, violence, etc..
The Samroiyod English Programme is suitably underfunded & so when last I heard, they had 1 Welshman & some Filipinos. There are some bright kids & the grounds are extensive, but it's 40km from HH & not a nice or easy journey.

To sum up -- if I had to send my kid to a local government school, I'd choose Samroiyod. However, I'd also do a lot of home teaching to back it up -- e.g., the complete lack of classes in geography or history, even in Thai.

Reading this information about Somtawin school is really is putting me off from moving to Hua Hin from Bangkok but has any parent or teacher information on Samroiyod school.
I understand it has a bi-lingual section but I have no other information

[Takiap]

Been living in HH for nearly three years now and never heard a good thing said about Somtawin school so whe my girl comes of age yhere is just no way I would even consider putting her there. Has anyone got any comments about Salesians shcool as we have been told it is pretty good. From what I have read and been told, pupils don't learn any English at Somtawin so why even bother choosing them for your kid? As far as learning English is concerned, I am lucky in that my wife can speak pretty good English and at home she only speaks English to our daughter. Added to this, I think I am quite capable of teaching her English as well although I am not a qualified teacher. This may not be the perfect solution but from what I gather, I can more than likely do a better job than the international teachers at Somtawin.

The ONLY WAY to get change is for parents to take their kids out of Somtawin school and maybe with a bit of help from expat business owners highlighting the poor quality of the school. A few notices displayed in the right places can do a lot of damage and if done right, would be well within the law.

Stand together people, they're your kids and they're priceless - to hell with those minky chingks.

[DawnHRD]

Takiap,

I was also thinking of Salesian for my little boy, but I mentioned it to some friends (Thai/Farang couple) who had sent their daughter there. They had problems with the discipline aspect (far too harsh, with no consideration of circumstances, in their opinion) and the teacher to children ratio (50 or 60 in a class, they said). I'm still considering it, but will do a lot more research into the school, bearing in mind their opinion. They removed their daughter & she's far happier now & doing well - in Somtawin!

[troopie]

Has anyone got any comments about Salesians shcool as we have been told it is pretty good. From what I have read and been told, pupils don't learn any English at Somtawin so why even bother choosing them for your kid?

I have no direct experience but I have met guys who taught at the Salesians & they said there is no regular English Programme there, just part-time teachers in some classes. The worst thing I have heard about that place is that many of HH's best send their kids there -- meaning a lot of spoilt, untouchable kids!
As for English at Somatawin, they do teach in English if you enroll in the expensive English programme. If not, its better than some government schools but all in Thai.

* There are some Thai business folk actively investigating the possibility & potential of opening a small international school here but it still hasn't even reached the formal research survey stage yet. Some of the folk involved are known to me & I have told them that I think there is a need & a market, one that is likely to grow.
More if/when I know it.