Figure 1.--The photo was taken at a Buddhist monastic school in Chiang Mai, Thailand. It is a sort of short-term boarding school. At the end of the study program which may be a couple months, the boys go back home. There are progrms to become monks, but these boys are in a short term program.

An interesting element in Thai education is the Buddhist monastary schools. We do not fully understand the system, but they seem to serve two purposes. The first purpose is to trrain future monks and are long term schools. Traditionally in Thiland before World War II there were few opportunities for poor childre. Becoming a monk was one way for poor boys to get an education and achieve some status in society. The second purpose is to train boys for just ashort period as part of their relgious training, but not to prepare them to be monks. Quite a substantial number of Thai boys have attended these monastic schools for brief periods, often during regular school breaks like summer vacations. While the boys are at these schools they are temporary novices (nen or samanera). They wear the saffron robes, but are cloistered. They are sent into townto beg for food. Thus they are a common sight in Thai cities. They take temporary vows. They may do it during the phansa (rainy season) period, during summer holidays (March - May), or even just for a few days. There are various reasons for this. Some parens want the boys to have basic religious training. Short term study progrms can be to earn make merit after a parent or grandparent has died. This is essentially a repayment of a debt owed to family members who have cared for them when they were little. Boys can be novices beginning at age 8 years, but most are a little older. The monastaries and temples ffer various study programs. One temple has aprogram training the bys in 10 precepts. All programs include training in meditation. Many parents report that the boys completing a novice program are more mature and less commonly have behavioral problems.

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Created: 9:09 AM 7/12/2016
Last updated: 9:09 AM 7/12/2016