schools in and around Hua Hin

[JD]

Could I ask JD, that normally you would just delete the name that I put into my post. Why has the whole thing been deleted?

I also know I am breaking the rules now for questioning your decision, that I apologise for, but there were 'some' things in that post which were beneficial to parents ie. why the GCSE program was not followed up on. Surely the whole post did not have to be deleted.

Because not only did you name the individuals concerned, you also gave out personal information about them on an open forum.

It would be very unprofessional of any Teacher (ex-school or not) to discus such matters with other parents of children at the school, yet you decided it would be OK to do so on here, WHY?

This is not the place for you to decide to make such statements about private individuals, telling the world about how you view their personal problems and how you then tell everyone how you would have dealt with their problems.

I never had the time to even try and edit the post, you obviously have a gripe about the school administration and your ex-fellow teaching staff.

Please don't bring your personal battles onto the forum.

A lot of what you say is useful information when you keep the personal stuff out, continue to post along these lines and you will not draw the attention of the moderators. When we see peoples names on posts, we react.

If you feel the need to answer this post, please do so using the forum PM system, and not on the open forum. As you have realised, that is also against forum rules.

[GLCQuantum]

JD, you are spot on with your comments about personal information. The same with a doctor, you can't give out details of the client. My mistake was putting a name into my post. Again I am sorry, as I said I know the individual and it touched a nerve.

I

never had the time to even try and edit the post, you obviously have a gripe about the school administration and your ex-fellow teaching staff.

Completely the opposite JD. All my fellow teaching staff at Somtawin worked their socks off and get paid very little for it. Everyone there has the very best intentions for the students, which is where it is different to a bilingual school where Thai teachers, however good they are, have been loaded with hours for about 9,000 baht.

As I said I am not in contact AT ALL to my previously close friends, but just wish to state that Yam Saa Ard does not come close in competing with Somtawin solely on the level of English the child will come out with. I also stated (not so politely I'm afraid) that I work in the biggest and richest Bilingual school in Thailand, Sarasas. My Grade 10 students are at about grade 2 level (my previous homeroom) in Somtawin. They will not fail, the exams are corrupt. It makes my blood boil as a teacher. Currently I would love to finish my education and achieve a Masters of Education so I am able to work in the best schools ie. Garden int. Harrows. British Int.

My initial words, now looking back, came across as arrogant and offensive. That is not the case. I would love Hua Hin to have a branch come in from one of the big schools in Bangkok so the kids can get the best Education, but at the moment it is just not feasable. How many parents in Hua Hin do you think are willing to pay 500,000 plus a year for their childs education, hence this has not come about.

In a Bilingual school they are supposed to be learning the same lesson, content, new lexis etc, in both languages but it never matches up. What you end up with is a disjointed, mis match of topics.

I have calmed my hot head on this topic. Sometimes my fingers click on the keys before I think it through.

Comparing Somtawin to Yam Saa Aard is like comparing a balloon to a rock, they are 2 completely different schools in every way. It just depends on what you want your child to achieve from their learning.

[JimmyGreaves]

I know a couple of kids that attended the Harrow International School in Bangkok (Thai Kids) from kinderkarten Now about 14 and 12. They are taught all the time in English and are now very clever kids. However they cannot read or write in their own mother tongue. I find that odd.

[faq2mfh]

GLCQuantum wrote:
How many parents in Hua Hin do you think are willing to pay 500,000 plus a year for their childs education, hence this has not come about.

So how many parents reading this thread could afford a real international school if one was to open in HH?

[JimmyGreaves]

GLCQuantum wrote:
How many parents in Hua Hin do you think are willing to pay 500,000 plus a year for their childs education, hence this has not come about.

So how many parents reading this thread could afford a real international school if one was to open in HH?

Poll

[GLCQuantum]

I would like to rephrase my deleted post, solely to give parents an insight into why there was unachieved promises 2 years ago in Somtawin as Kitechik stated ( She does know why though!!! )

2 years ago, everything which Dr Alan had achieved and built over 4 years was destroyed by an incompetent lady, who was given the job of Head of English due to lack of another choice. She managed to single handedly destroy the school in a short period of time.

Towards the end of her reign she was coming in, on average, about 3 days a week. No man management skills, low moral in the office and a lot of lessons being covered due to her absence.

The new guy, Mr Steve, has a very good head on his shoulders and is at this time still backtracking to pick up the pieces. It won't take long before the school is back on the right track. As I have lost contact with the school over the last year and a half I'm not sure how they stand, but I can confidently say that the school is probably already back to normal as I knew Mr Steve from my time there and know his capabilities.

Broken promises certainly don't bide well with parents but at the time these were all out of our hands.

[GLCQuantum]

know a couple of kids that attended the Harrow International School in Bangkok (Thai Kids) from kinderkarten Now about 14 and 12. They are taught all the time in English and are now very clever kids. However they cannot read or write in their own mother tongue. I find that odd.

That is certainly, very odd . As I mentioned before the child will come out of an international school with a lower level of Thai than that of a Bilingual School. The reason......

Int. School : 5 hours of Thai teaching a week. Everything else in English.

Temple school or Bilingual : 20 hours* of Thai teaching. Your child will be proficient in Thai, depending on the teacher.

Still, all the kids at Somtawin had a reasonable comprehension of the Thai language but, of course, they will not be as good as a Thai in a Thai school.

I don't want to hide behind my screen name. My name is Gavin (MR Gavin if students are reading ) and have devoted my life 100 percent to teaching, doesn't matter what country, only the well being of the child is my concern.

[nanyang]

[quote="GLCQuantum"]
... the money is great quote]

I am indeed heartened to read that.

Perhaps I could prevail upon you to repay me the 10,000 baht, that I 'loaned' you in October 2008, at your earliest convenience.

I would have P.M'd you but I thought that, given you've relinquished your anonymity, you wouldn't mind me adding to your credibility here.

In case you've forgotten my account number I have P.M'd that information.

[GLCQuantum]

Perhaps I could prevail upon you to repay me the 10,000 baht, that I 'loaned' you in October 2008, at your earliest convenience.

Could you also please reveal your identity as I have no idea of who you are or do I have any P.Ms in my box.

In case you've forgotten my account number I have P.M'd that information.

Admin could you also clarify that I have had no P.Ms in my box as you can see for yourself.

I would have P.M'd you but I thought that, given you've relinquished your anonymity, you wouldn't mind me adding to your credibility here.

In what way is that adding to my 'credibility'. That I have borrowed money and not paid it back!!! I wouldn't exactly put that under the umbrella of credibilty.

If you have a problem here is my number.... actually, just PM me for my number, and that goes to anyone wishing to duscuss the schools in Hua Hin or for 'unpayed loans'.

Quick cut and paste....


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[GLCQuantum]

Looking back now I do remember 'borrowing' 10,000 baht from my father last year for a trip out the country........ are you my father????

[nanyang]

Check your inbox now.

No, indeed I'm not your father.

I'll check my account next weekend as I'm ever hopeful.

[GLCQuantum]

The above is true, I now remember.

Very, very sorry T****.



We all have skeletons in the closet eh!!!!

As soon as I can get to the bank it will go in, sorry again.

Boy, I feel stupid now!! Please PM me in future rather than put this on a post about schools.

[nanyang]

Life is full of experiences but not all of them are worthwhile.

[kitechick]

This is a reply to Terry and Carmen, yes we did speak with Mr Steve and he was very positive with the help that our son would receive in the lead up to his IGCSE but with his new role in the school not much happened.

I believe that the education should come before the administration of the school but I also understand that to have a good level of education you need to have a great administration. Trying to be both as Mr Steve was towards the end of the last school year is not beneficial towards the students or the school. The Management/owners of the school need to understand this and take positive steps to make sure that an administrator or Head is allowed to be just that and not load them down with both jobs in an attempt to save money.
This may have been done for this academic year (could someone clarify).

I am glad to hear that there is now active parental involvement in the school, all schools should have this.

In regards to the other school in Hua Hin. I have spoken to several parents who have children at the school many of them do have a Thai partner and they have made the choice to place there children in the school as they would like their children to be proficient in Thai language and culture as many of them will remain in Thailand, which Somtawin although does teach Culture does fall, in my opinion, way behind Yam Sa ad in Thai Language, but this is to be expected as it is a full English program.

It is a personal choice for parents and their circumstances now and their plans for their future in deciding which school to opt for in Hua Hin and only their decision and no one can tell you are wrong.
For future Parents to Hua Hin. I would suggest you go and visit both schools talk to parents of the school, teachers of the school and students of the school. Look at the good, the bad and the ugly and decide for yourself what is best for your child or children.

If anyone needs more info on the IGCSE exams please PM me and I will do my best to answer your questions.

Regards

[bigideas]

GLC Quantum, How dissappointed am I that someone who calls him/herself a teacher, has managed to turn this previously useful thread into an abusive, ill-informed rant. That they have allowed someone with your level of indecency to teach at Somtawin is neither suprising nor to their credit. And furthermore, I am unsuprised that those who are unfortunate enough to have looked to you for educational guidance have under-achieved. That you are not a parent is perhaps the least suprising thing of all!
Education is about individuals. It is about your child, the teacher and the parents. It matters not where your child goes or even whether they go at all. What matters is that the people and things and environment that your child comes into contact with, is what your child wants and what you want. I am confident that the environment at Yamsaard for K1 through to P2, is about as close as I can get to what we both want. The rest of course is up to the parent and child.
For me, I was not confident that Somtawin had my childs best interests at heart for the period between those years.

Points of interest: Yamsaard School has 50 minutes of Thai language and culture teaching every day.
Yamsaard Kindergarten classes have an average of 8 pupils per class.
Yamsaard have native English speaking homeroom teachers in every kindergaten class and the remainder of the lessons are taught in English.

It seems to me that you haven't even visited Yamsaard Hua Hin school and your prejudices about bilingual schools are based solely on your experiences at Sarasas schools. I find your ranting uninformative and useless.