School highlights royal ties

“Their lessons are tailored to bring out good leadership skills,” said Troyon, who recently screened students in the Kingdom for the prestigious school near Lake Geneva in Switzerland.
Ecole Nouvelle, which was established 111 years ago, has become a celebrated institution because it produced exceptional leaders, among them, two Thai monarchs.“Students are taught that they need to set good examples for people to follow,” Troyon said.
“Here, they learn that leaders must personify high moral standards, fairness and compassion that are the root of all good organisations. While many schools are able to educate the general public, children of esteemed families require additional skills to succeed.
 “Some are expected to take over business empires with thousands of employees. The responsibilities are, therefore, so much greater.
“They need a special place like Ecole Nouvelle that can prepare them with not just knowledge but with shaping character and instilling a positive outlook towards society and life.
In Thailand, he said, the best example of outstanding leadership can be seen in HM King Bhumibol Adulyadej and HM King Ananda Mahidol who were part of the distinguished alumni. Accompanying Troyon on his enrolment drive is author Lysandre Seraidaris, who says the Swiss school is highly respected for having a profound influence” on the royal brothers.
Seraidaris’ father, Cleon, was employed by the late Princess Mother, to look after her boys.
“Cleon recommended Ecole Nouvelle to her when she asked him where she could enrol her sons. She wanted them to obtain an excellent education. She also wanted them to grow up with humility and to be caring, responsible individuals,” said the now retired writer.
Troyon agreed, saying: “If parents want their children to grow up spoilt and be obsessed with luxury brand goods, there are many so-called elite schools to choose from.
“But do not send them to Ecole Nouvelle. This would be the wrong place for such children.”
The school’s simple appearance throughout the years does not employ fancy materials like marble or outlamdish ornaments on its fairly large grounds.“Everything about the school is really to bring out humility and to demonstrate morally responsible behaviour.”
“Students in past decades were taught to grow crops so they would understand the struggle of ordinary farmers and the problems they face. Students do not grow up becoming indifferent to the needs and suffering of poorer folk.
“They also learn other skills such as wood carving. Vocational skills can help them construct useful things with their own hands. The late king, for example, built his own boat,” said Seraidaris.
“My father was their tutor and looked after the royal children, taking them to school and back home,” the author recalled. He was instructed by the Princess Mother to keep the identities of her boys a secret. “She did not want them to be pampered but treated like other boys. “She thought it was essential they learn the lives of ordinary folk before they took up their regal duties.”
Ecole Nouvelle has adapted to the times, however, and today is no longer a “boys only” school.
It has also more classes that range from pre-school to high school. Today, the languages of instruction are French and English.
 “Each class will have about 12 to 15 students,” Troyong said. “A smaller classroom enables a more teaching approach.”
 “Students are judged not only by their grades but on their social skills and personal development.”Seraidaris noted Thai parents are impressed by the wide range of changes the royal brothers brought to the kingdom, enabling its successful transition from a farm economy to an industrial-agro powerhouse.
HM King Bhumibol’s green and alternative energy programmes placed the Kingdom far ahead of Asian countries in previous decades.
Seraidaris said the 19 years that the Royal Family spent in Lausanne remain unfamiliar for many people. “Many people do not realise just how exceptional they were as students,” the author said. They were always at the top of their class. They spoke fluent French, better than native speakers,” the author said.
“And when they wrote, their skills were perfect,as their letters to my father showed.”
 “They were also very athletic, great skaters, skiers and ice hockey players.”
“Some years ago, I was urged by King Bhumibol to write a book to shed light on this rather obscure period, which included his school years at Ecole Nouvelle.”
“HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn opened the new wing of the school two years ago,” he said. “She was also presented with several hundred copies of Seraidaris’ book called “King Bhumibol”, being impressed by the historical accounts that are growing more fascinating with the passing years.