Students at the Sawang
Boriboon School assemble for the Thai anthem and morning prayers.
Chaiyot Poopapanapong
The Sawang Boriboon Foundation School is under fire for
disturbing nearby residents with noisy patriotic activities.
Arunrat Sawatchutitrakul, principal at the Soi
Nernplabwan facility, said Aug. 24 that a lawyer has filed a complaint and
is interviewing neighbors about the 30-45 minutes the school has students
spend each morning honoring Thailand’s flag. Music and singing, amplified
over loudspeakers, is apparently bothering at least one nearby resident.
Arunrat said the lawyer claims a sleepless neighbor has
complained several times to the school about the noise to no avail. She said
she was surprised at the length the disgruntled resident, who apparently
works nights and cannot sleep in the morning, was going to and now the
school has had hire its own attorney to handle the matter.
Arunrat said the school didn’t intend to disturb
neighbors and will reduce the amount of time students spend on their
patriotic activities, but she defended the events as beneficial in promoting
discipline, patriotism and religion.
Despite the complaint, not all neighbors seemed
concerned.
Leknai Sae-Lee, who lives between Sawang Boriboon and
Nernplabwan schools, said she hasn’t been bothered by any noise. Another
neighbor, Anchana Srisunthorn, said she hears Sawang Boriboon’s speakers,
but accepts them because they promote patriotism. Both admit they are early
risers and therefore not bothered by the noise.
