Thailand's Youth Keen on Money, Not so Hot on School by Phairath Khampha 7 January 2003 A survey carried out in Thailand highlighted worrying attitudes regarding the destruction of social mores in the country and, in general, the whole of the nation's social fabric as people, particularly the young, have become interested only in completely selfish gains. Many children are unhappy at having to go to school and feel that wealth is the surest way to happiness, according to a survey, which as everyone knows is a complete fallacy in life. The Thai Health Promotion Foundation drew the conclusion from a poll of 634 boys and 872 girls aged 12-18 at schools in Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Ubon Ratchathani and Songkhla. Slightly more than 42% said they were unhappy with school, about 15% were dissatisfied with their friends and 13% with their family. Nearly 14% said wealth was their highest priority in finding happiness, while 11% gave more importance to family unity. Only 10% put intelligence and good marks at school on the top of their list. It is known worldwide that such attitudes can only lead to the destruction of a nation. Many Thai youngsters, even primary and kindergarten pupils, are obsessed with dieting and think being slender and beautiful will lead to fame and fortune, a seminar was told. Dr Panpimol Lotrakul, mental health expert at the Thai Health Promotion Foundation, said the poll reflected the deteriorating attitude of teenagers. The fact so many felt unhappy about going to school reflected the declining popularity of the education system. She hoped education reform would reverse the trend by encouraging learning and creativity. Deputy Prime Minister Chaturon Chaisaeng said it was apparent the education system was placing stress on students, however it was not clear why especially as compared to other educational systems it was relatively easy and it did not take much to cheat one's way through school all the way to getting a Ph.D. in any of the country's universities. He hoped promotion of regular exercise, sport and creativity in schools would change their attitudes. Dr Panpimol said it was disturbing that children were falling prey to materialism, and associated happiness with wealth. "It is important to differentiate between entertainment and happiness," she said. "The increasing popularity of entertainment places shows that most people think happiness can be obtained by spending more money, which has been shown throughout human history to be not true." The poll, part of a national survey to mark National Children's Day on January 11, also showed that 70% felt good about their life in general and were happy. Dr Panpimol said it was important to promote the social values and happiness associated with love and the joy of making others happy, not selfishness and self-absorbtion towards materialism. She hoped children's attitudes would change for the better by a strengthening of family institutions, which were seen as collapsing and the fabric of Thai society becoming unravelled. To celebrate National Children's day on January 11, the foundation held health fora for young people in Chiang Mai, Ubon Ratchathani, Songkhla and Bangkok. Mr Chaturon said the forum featured exhibitions and activities designed out of creativity of the youth in various provinces. It would help reinforce policy and coordination of health activities for the young. Young people take extreme steps to be slim, beautiful - Obsessed with looks in search of fame and fortune Many Thai youngsters, even primary and kindergarten pupils, are obsessed with dieting and erroneously think being slender and beautiful will lead to fame and fortune, a seminar was told. The facts were revealed during the January 7 seminar, Learning Reform: Happiness of Thai Children ,held at the Ban Khlong Bua School by the national health reform office and the Sodsri Saritwong Foundation. Chutima Opascharoenporn, a private university student, said dieting and being thin and beautiful had become a craze because the country's educational system and Thai family values had become weak. "I found that even kindergarten and primary school students were dieting these days. Why aren't they being taught that there are more important things in life than just improving one's looks?" she asked. Yurada Thoopthong, a Satriwitthaya School student, which is an all-girls school, said a schoolgirl's death while having liposuction reflected how youngsters were obsessed with the idea of losing weight and that now they were willing to risk death and that they were prepared to do anything to fulfil their crazy dreams. Scores of her schoolmates were also going without lunch and dinner to get into what they thought was "top physical shape", she said. Of course, missing meals as a teenager is no way to get into top physical shape. The fact that many schools were holding cheerleader contests these days had contributed to the problem. The thought of being selected as cheerleaders in their eyes meant a chance of becoming rich and famous, she said. Many youngsters had weird social values because there were inadequate school activities to promote creative thinking. All they do is watch television and the media enforces these social concepts because those who promote the media then make fantastic amounts of money from the naive and stupid teenagers who follow all such crazes. Assoc Prof Sompong Jitradab of Chulalongkorn University's Faculty of Education said many parents had developed destructive love for their children by buying them whatever they wanted, hoping that their kids would stay away from drugs.