Getting a head start

Nong Bua is only three years old, but already she is working hard towards a successful career.

Although Nong Bua lives in an outlying area of Nonthaburi Province, her parents believe the best kindergarten to ensure that she wins a prized seat in a top school, which in turn will prepare her for the best university courses and a well-paid job, is in Lat Phrao. So Bua is dragged from bed before dawn, and driven across town for almost two hours, just so she can get to class on time.

At the end of the day she faces a similarly long, tedious journey back home. And then on weekends, she takes dance, music, and computer classes to gain "extra talents" which will further improve her chances of succeeding in later life.

Nong Bua is not alone in this pursuit of excellence. The highly-competitive education system has forced many Bangkok children to embark on the rat race almost as soon as they leave the playpen.

By the time these children finish kindergarten, they are expected to be able to read both Thai and English, calculate three and four digits equations, use a computer, and be competent in art, sport, and music.

But do they have any choice? Is there any alternative for young children other than to join the mainstream education system, with its emphasis on strict academic study and competition, so they can get the best out of life?

Some educators believe there should be and are setting up independent kindergartens that place less emphasis on strict textbook learning, opting instead for a more creative approach of teaching.

Among these "alternative" kindergartens are the Amatayakul Kindergarten and School in Bang Khen which has a neo-humanist approach, the Siripongse Temple Kindergarten on Rarm Intra Road which cultivates a helpful, loving mind, and the Na Daroon Kindergarten in Phra Khanong which emphasises the arts.

"These 'readiness programme' kindergartens do not push children to read, write, and calculate as if they were in elementary level," said Dr Bussabong Tantiwongse, an associate professor at Chulalongkorn University's Faculty of Education and an advocate of alternative kindergartens.

"Instead they place an emphasis on developing a child's intelligence and the personal qualities necessary to be a well-rounded, happy person."

There is sound theory behind taking a different approach, according to Associate Professor Kiatiwan Amatayakul who is the director of the Amatayakul Kindergarten and School which has been open for six years.

"The ages two to six are the main years the brain develops," Assoc Prof Kiatiwan said. "Tutorial-based schooling destroys brain cells because children sit passively while they listen, read, and write. They don't move about much.

"To stimulate the brain, it is best to move the hands and feet as much as possible. That's why our school lets children study and play at the same time."

According to the school's neo-humanist philosophy, it is important for children to be well-rounded in all aspects. Apart from its academic curriculum, the school provides other activities like music, sports, and art to help pupils explore their natural talents.

"Instead of concentrating on the input and just stuffing knowledge into the children, neo-humanism focuses on the output side and draws out their abilities and talents," said Assoc Prof Kiatiwan.

"Once children discover their talent, we encourage them. They, in turn, will be proud of themselves and this creates a good self-image of themselves."

While Amatayakul has activities that promote the child's intellectual ability, Na Daroon Kindergarten emphasises art and music to boost their imagination and creativeness.

"Art is creative and free," said Valaiporn Ongsakul, the director of the school which is only in its second year.

"There is no right or wrong about it. So when children do it, there is no failure. This makes them feel good and confident in themselves."

In each lesson, teachers have samples to give children an idea of what they are going to do. They are then asked questions to test their comprehension.

"We don't believe in 'telling' kids to remember but in showing them and encouraging them to think and understand on their own. We believe learning things from experience is better than simply being told what to believe. Teachers are only guides," Valaiporn said.

Siripongse Temple Kindergarten follows the same basic principles but does so in "natural" surroundings and adds a spiritual element.

"Education must go beyond books to the natural and spiritual," said Buddhist nun Sansanee Sthirasuth of Sthiradharm Sthana Nunnery who manages the kindergarten. "We put an emphasis on children learning in a natural environment."

The school is designed to look like a small hill with lots of trees and flowers and most lessons are related to nature. Children are reminded that nature cherishes human beings, or as Sansanee says: "The air they breath is a gift of love from the trees."

To make children appreciate nature, different school grades are named after flowers rather than following the usual numbering system.

Apart from its natural environment, the kindergarten tries to create a realistic social environment. Children of all ages at the kindergarten - from two to six - mix in the same classroom under the care of a teacher and a nun. Disabled children are not segregated and take their rightful place alongside their able-bodied counterparts.

"In society, kids have to live with people of different ages and also many types of people, be they normal or handicapped. And they have to learn that in society, older people must take care of younger ones and help each other like sisters or brothers," said nun Sansanee.

Because of this phinong (sister and brother) environment, children at Siripongse develop a high sense of helpfulness. It is common to see older children holding hands of the younger ones.

As well as modelling a loving mind, academic preparation is done with spiritual flavour.

"We don't teach children dharma lessons but integrate spirituality into their everyday life," said Sansanee. "Dharma is duty. The children are taught to do their duty with a delightful mind. They learn to be happy and pleased in whatever they do. We believe that people can succeed in anything when they do it with happiness."

However, many parents believe these alternative approaches will disadvantage their children compared to their counterparts at regular, more academically-inclined kindergartens, when they enrol in elementary school. But this is an ill-founded belief, according to Assoc Prof Kiatiwan.

"We prepare children to have strong foundation through different skills. In neo-humanist theories, when a child's brain is well trained, they can receive a lot of information and are able to learn things well and quickly."

And although they seem to ignore textbooks, most alternative kindergartens still have classes concentrating on basic academic subjects so their pupils can go on to Prathom one where, according to Dr Bussabong, they often do better.

"Forcing young chil dren to study the subjects which are not really fit for their age does not do them any good. The same is true if we use the wrong teaching methods which can make children hate studying altogether," Dr Bussabong said.

"For kindergarten children, the main factor to consider is whether what they learn will be useful in real life. Their learning has to develop their physical and mental health as well," she added.

With their quite different training, children from alternative kindergartens begin to show characteristics quite distinct to those of their counterparts from mainstream schools.

"Children will be what they are trained to be. Children from these alternative schools appear to be happy, lively, and confident in learning and being with friends," said Dr Bussabong.

And as Prof Kiatiwan added: "We teach children to have a good self-image of themselves. This is the basis for a well-adjusted person. Having good self esteem will enable them to have good relationships with others."

"We do not compare children for each one has their own talent. We encourage them according to their ability. In turn, the children are not jealous for they know they have their own talent which is different from others."

The final word, however, goes to nun Sansanee: "Kindergarten years are the best time to plant the seeds of kind-heartedness and contentment.

"It's the time we should seriously think and decide what is better for our children - happiness or competition."

* The Amatayakul Kindergarten and School, telephone 552 3291; Siripongse Temple Kindergarten, telephone 510 6697; Na Daroon Kindergarten, telephone 712 6490/1.