Kids tap the wind in the sails of classtime policy

Students at Wat Wang Ped School in Bang Rakam district, Phitsanulok, asked the Education Ministry what the heck they’re supposed to do with the extra hour carved out of their class time every day and were told, “Go fly a kite.”

It didn’t happen like that at all, of course, but at least we’re getting one nice report – and surely there’ll be more – from the 3,831 schools thus far participating in the Lod Wela Rean Phem Wela Roo (Moderate Class More Knowledge) initiative launched by the Office of the Basic Education Commission.

It’s been a controversial concept, but the policy of reducing classroom times to give students an hour a day of lessstructured activities is intended to foster thinking skills, teamwork and individual potential.

The 127 students at Wat Wang Ped School, says director Chalerm Pomboonmee, put their books away at 2.30pm and commence creating. The little ones in Prathom 1 to 3 do beadwork while their seniors in Prathom 4 to 6 build kites. 

“A week into the new semester the kids are thoroughly enjoying their new activities,” Chalerm reports. “They’re learning about the culture. A local expert comes in to teach the students how to make kites and now they’re flying the kites in our football field.”

But, unless global scholastic tests are going to start assessing kiteflying aptitude along with math and physics, it’s a bit “up in the air”, isn’t it Not at all, says Chalerm, and he’s backed up by scientific research.

Studies have repeatedly shown that playtime is the best time for children to develop creativity and problemsolving capabilities. Running around a field dragging a kite through the wind is improving their physical strength, while building the kites hones social, emotional and intellectual skills. The thinking, reasoning and social interaction come naturally, and solving problems creatively brings rewards. 

“Most of our students are from farm households, so their lives are connected to the changes in seasons. During the rainy season they have to help their parents in the fields,” says Charlerm. 

“In the old days, families would spend their rest breaks during the day making and flying kites. It was one way of bonding families closely. Nowadays, with machines doing most of the labour in the paddy fields, youngsters don’t get to learn how to make kites. So our students are learning how to make and fly the small and fast wow pakpao, a diamondshaped kite that requires few materials but a great deal of skill.”  

Nirut Nakthongchua, the expert doing the instructing, is actually a former student of the school and he’s tickled to be back again. “My father taught me how to make kites and I really love the idea of passing on this local knowledge to the younger generation.”

Sujira Jamdee, 11, is pretty tickled too. “I really like this,” says the Prathom 5 pupil. “You don’t get as stressed out as you do with the textbooks. We’ve had this kitemaking workshop for a week and it’s great. Making the kites isn’t hard, but flying them is really tricky!”