National Adult Literacy Database

November 11, 2002

The following story was written by Gong Choosri, from Whitehorse, Yukon. Gong was born in Thailand and became a teacher for nineteen years, teaching English to her students. She decided to come to Canada to improve her English. She has been in Yukon now for two and a half years. Her English is much better because she always speaks English at work and because she had a tutor from Yukon Learn.

Going to School in Thailand

by Gong Choosri

We are proud to be born Thai. We have Buddha who teaches us not to bleed others by body, words and mind. We have a king and queen who help us and develop the quality of life for the people and the country. Our parents and teachers give us an education and bring us up to be kind people.

Hundreds of years ago, there were no schools in Thailand and not many people had the opportunity to study. We had to walk many kilometers to go to the temple for studying. The instructors were monks. The girls could not touch or stay close to the monks, so only boys could be the students in the temples. The girls learned cooking, sewing, knitting, child-care, good manners and housework from their mothers, grandmothers and elders.

Presently, we are lucky to have schools and literacy organizations to teach the adults who didn't finish school when they were young. By law, all children must go to school now and graduate from at least grade 9.

We learn mathematics, socials, science, Thai, English, etc. For activities, we have puppet shows, storytelling, drama, games, sports, boy scouts, girl guides, etc. Teachers and students join together with the public for special occasions such as National Day, Buddha's Day, King's Birthday (Father's Day), Queen's Birthday (Mothers' Day), Teachers' Day, and some religious ceremonies. Students also help to clean-up, repair and plant trees in public places such as the temples and the markets. They also help to repair the village roads.

We learn lots of things from school and also from Buddha, our parents and teachers. We promise to be good people and to be giving, forgiving, helping, fair, faithful, responsible, loving and understanding of others. And especially, to respect the elders and do not bleed others to make our world peaceful. Thank you very much Buddha, the King and Queen, Mom, Dad, teachers and elders.

[This story was taken with permission, from the Yukon Learn website, Story of the Month section.]