Views of some students

“My name is Need. I am thrilled to be a student at Thawsi School. This is a school which makes use of Dhamma to teach the students. We children have a daily opportunity to chant and meditate. The school frequently invites monks to give Dhamma talks to students, teachers and parents. We enjoy learning the academic subjects together with actual experiments which are fun to carry out. The teachers are nice and kind. If some of them are more strict to us, they also help us to realize what we have done wrong. If the children have some academic questions or problems, the teachers will help explain until we understand. I have the feeling that we are very close to one another.

Among friends sometimes we tease each other a little to have some fun. When we have to work together, we divide our work load very well. Everybody is well united. At this school, we have Phra Ajahn Jayasaro as the Chief Spiritual Advisor, Khroo Onn is the Headmistress. With the great effort and help of the two, Thawsi School took the shape as we know it.

Phra Ajahn Jayasaro is from the Thai Forest Tradition and has helped lay down the school foundation and presented to the school “The Twelve Wise Habits” in order for the students to follow in the footsteps of the Buddha. (I think I have done o k in this!)

As for Khroo Onn, she is determined to develop a Buddhist School to lead the children in the right direction and teach them how to solve problems, particularly those related to their own life. The administrative team of Thawsi School knows that technical expertise alone is not sufficient. It must be “Life Skill Subject”. I have acquired the worldly subjects. I have also learnt and practiced Dhamma at the same time. I thank every teacher. I love Thawsi so much!”
(Need, primary school grade five)

    “I feel that Thawsi School is a good school. It is a community characterized by good friendship, warmth, and security. People speak gently to one another, no harsh actions. The school offers samadhi practice to everybody. We have morning chanting and other Dhamma activities. What I like most about the school is that there are so many activities and on-going events. In the class room, there are also games, plays and other activities which make our study more fun. I also enjoy the school food (most of it anyway) tremendously Finally, I would like to say that our school is a very good school.”
(Papon Kumponkanjana, primary school grade four)

“I have been a student in this school from my early childhood. The first day I came to school, I was no different from any other children. There was a lot of crying and wailing to do, trying to hold on to my parents, pleading with them not to leave me. In the end I had to cry and sob when we sang the national anthem.

But somehow, when I started my second week in this school, I told my parents they could feel free to leave! I felt that the school gave me as much warmth and security as I could expect from my parents.
I felt secure, reassured and warm at school. Every teacher is kind-hearted and nice. I feel happy and love the school very much. Since I entered the school from the nursery level, therefore, I feel particularly attached to this school. Now I am in grade four. There are so many things in life that I feel attached to and would like to gently care for. Thawsi school is one of these things that I love. It is the school that has provided love and care for me like I am one of its daughters. I would like to express my sense of gratitude to all the teachers who have so many children, one of whom is myself.
(Pimburabha Thamawut, primary school grade four)