Thailand-July 20, 2010

Today I visited Suankularb Wittayalai School ( Rose Gaden School )( secondary school ). This school is where Sorn worked as a teacher. She said that she loved her time here very much! Suankularb Wittayalai School is the most famous all boys’ school in Thailand. "SUANKULARB" means "rose garden" in Thai, the original school being located in the area of the rose garden in the Grand Palace. The school was founded by King Rama V in 1882 and was originally established for Royal Page Lieutenants; it has always benefited from Royal patronage. Under the patronage and guidance of King Rama V the school became popular and grew quickly, changing its focus from military training to a much more broadly-based curriculum that reflected the needs of its students. As a result of increasing numbers of students the school was moved from the Grand Palace grounds in 1893 and to its present site in 1910.In 1981 a multi-purpose building and gymnasium was built to commemorate the school's centennial. It was opened by the present King, H.M. King Bhumiphol (Rama IX), on July 30, 1984. A great auditorium was built in 1995 and opened that year H.R.H. Princess Maha Chakri Sirintorn. The teaching of science and technology has been a central policy of the school. This is a simply fabulous institution of learning. Many former Priministers of Thailand attended here! I would like to mention that I had a wonderful young man, who is a current student at the school, as my guide. He is so bright that I think that one day he may also be a Priminister of Thailand! I will be posting his picture with some other interesting sites sometime this evening.
( http://www.sk.ac.th )

More to come about my exciting visit to the Jirasartwitthaya School ( the famous private school in Phra Nakorn Sri Ayutthaya Province) (http://www.jirasart.com/ and my other afternoon activities including my observation of the temples on an elephant!