Follow the Buddhist principle of tolerance

I fully agree with Education Minister Woravat Auapinyakul and the Muslim group that was protesting against two students being suspended by Wat Nong Chok School for wearing a headscarf in class, as per their religion’s practice. I also agree that Muslim students should be allowed to wear headscarves nationwide. 

But of more concern to me is whether Wat Nong Chok School’s director and at least some teachers have the necessary qualities needed for their posts. The director suspended students who exercised their Constitutionally-guaranteed rights, despite the Education Ministry’s direct order that the behaviour was permissible: the director should have either persuaded the minister that the suspension was in order or resigned his post in protest. 

As for the teachers – especially those who refused to run their classes if there were Muslim students wearing a headscarf in the classroom – they should explain why they believed that their acts were legal. And, equally importantly (since they were in a school run by a Buddhist temple), whether their acts were in line with Buddhist teachings of tolerance. They had said earlier that headscarves were not permissible because their school was near a Buddhist temple. Would they then force Sikh students at their temple school to cut their hair short? Would they agree if Roman Catholic schools with chapels/churches nearby forbade Buddhist students to wear religious amulets?

To me, these teachers are knowingly setting bad examples. 

As a wise man said, “Become the lesson you would teach; be what you would have others become”. Teachers are role models for their pupils and leaders in their communities. As such, they must welcome opposing opinions, and either convince opponents or be convinced by them. Here, they have swayed only their director, have not welcomed other views, and must either willingly comply with the law or resign in protest.

Burin Kantabutra

Bangkok