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A THAI UNIVERSITY has taken drastic steps to stop would-be cheats by introducing makeshift ‘blinkers’ for its examinees, thwarting students tempted by a furtive glance at their peers’ exam papers.
The bizarre headgear – consisting of two A4 sheets of plain white writing paper attached by paperclips to a headband – was worn by nearly 100 students on Wednesday during a textile exam.
It was the brainchild of a professor at one of Bangkok’s most famous universities who was concerned that his small exam room would encourage plagiarism.
Controversy
But a photograph posted on Facebook of the students sporting the blinkers – which they made and customised themselves – during the exam at Kasetsart University, had by Friday stirred ridicule from the Thai press and social media.
The controversy prompted the university to scrap the blinkers while the teacher behind the scheme toured television studios to explain the unusual measure.
“It was for fun, relaxation and humour for the students… I want them to feel relaxed in their exams,” Nattadon Rungruangkitkrai told AFP over the telephone.
The 40-year-old professor said the idea came about during discussions with students last week about how to prevent cheating.
It is a trial idea agreed between me and the students — they liked it. They said the blinkers could release stress during the exam and help them concentrate.
An education expert said the incident suggested cheating was rife in the Thai education system and among wider society.
“It’s in their nature to help their friends by allowing other people to copy,” Somphong Chitradub, an education expert at Bangkok’s Chulalongkorn University told AFP.
“But they have to respect themselves – competing by copying is nothing to be proud of.”
I love Christmas but this article resonates on some points and I am sure will do the same for many,
I would add:
Try and get 30mins exercise in each day. A brisk walk will be fine. It keeps the mince pies at bay and boosts your mood. Double whammy.
And remember, if it is not a good time of year, it is short lived. It’ll be over soon.
@Gus McIntosh: I may or may not call clients in my pj’s on my exercise bike when it’s raining.
Stop listening to RTÉ news headlines and Clare Byrne
@James Fox: advice for life, not just Christmas
Dare to hope! Life and love will prevail.
We really are all in this together, look after yourself and your loved ones and don’t put any unneeded pressure on yourself. It’s Christmas, there’s one every year.
@Sean Kirwan: we’re not though. At all.
@Fergal McDonagh: bit if you try real hard when you close your eyes you can convince yourself that we are. Then get back to ignoring the horrible truths in society. Sure its Christmas….Best time of the year to paint over the cracks till next year.
Great article and very helpful thank you.
A whole industry really has grown around the lack of mental wellness that is being driven by contaminants in our food and other man made chemicals we did not evolve to exist with. What we eat, drink and breathe is making us sick and there is no shortage of experts who proclaim to understand our anxiety as an emotion whereas for many it is likely an artificial sensation of fear being triggered by chemicals in our food, drink, breathing air and personal care products. Anxiety is not mental it is immunological for many if not most.
@Gavin Tobin: It can’t be all down to that at all. For an example, watch a few episodes of the Flintstones – Barney Rubble was clearly of a very nervous disposition, constantly worried about things going wrong.
That was a few million years before processed foods and diesel particulates.
@Gavin Tobin: Personally I’m fed up with the constant touting of “detox” products. Our bodies have perfectly functional livers and kidneys and no one needs plastic patches of colour-changing gunk to “filter” any alleged toxins. I wouldn’t take them if they were free, but they’re obviously very lucrative for the sellers to impulse buyers with no notion of human biology at all.
@Fiona Fitzgerald: Yea I’ve seen some fall recently for the ear candle scam which are sold by reputable pharmacies like Boots etc.
One major problem is listed allergens like SO2/Sulphites can be legally hidden and for some this is an overlooked problem.
For example 10% of asthmatics are believed to have a SO2/Sulphite allergy so our food safety laws expose them to a known listed allergen that is hidden from food labelling.
A little bit of inflammation can drive inflammation of CNS driving allergy in particular. Liver & kidneys can’t help here.
@Gavin Tobin: What an absolute load. Being prone to anxiety is a consequence of bad past experiences or just their natural disposition. Some people are naturally pessimistic or wary and never believe good things can happen without ten bad things ruining it afterwards. They might have low self esteem and are convinced they don’t deserve to feel relaxed or happy about anything, and when they do, they dont feel that way for long. Some people think life is empty and meaningless and will feel despair and anxiety over that. Blaming peoples anxiety on what they ingest is completely undermining their anxiety. I feel anxiety constantly, and believe me, its got nothing to do with what i eat and drink and everything to do with my life and the effect its had on me.
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