A STUDY OF TEACHERS PERFORMANCE OF TEACHING ACCORDING TO THE NOBLE EIGHTFOLD PATH DEPAR TMENT OF SOCIAL STUDIES RELIGION AND CULTURE IN HIGH SCHOOL UNDER THE KHONKAEN MUNICIPALITY SCHOOL

Abstract

                The aims of this research were: 1) to study self-conducts according teachers’ professional standards based on the principles of Eightfold paths (aṭṭhaṅgika-magga) of the secondary school teachers in Social Studies, Religion and Culture department under the Khon Kaen Municipality schools; 2) to compare the samples’ opinions towards self-conducts according teachers’ professional standards based on the principles of Eightfold paths; 3) to present suggestions to develop self-conducts according teachers’ professional standards based on the principles of Eightfold paths. This study was carried out by means of mixed research methodology. The samples used in the quantitative research were 165 teachers and the data were collected by using the questionnaire. For the qualitative research, the targets including 3 key informants were interviewed.

                The research results revealed that:         
                based on the statistic scores in all nine aspects from the study of self-conducts according teachers’ professional standards based on the principles of Eightfold paths of the secondary school teachers in Social Studies, Religion and Culture department under the Khon Kaen Municipality schools were as follows. The first aspect ‘the self-discipline, personal development in the profession, personality and vision always kept up with science, economics, society and politics based on the principles of right speech (sammāvācā) and right action (sammākammanta) and right livelihood (sammāājīva)’ was at the highest level; while the fifth aspect ‘physically, verbally and mentally self-conducts as a good model, according to the principles of right speech and right action and right livelihood was found in a high level and the forth aspect ‘promoting the good learning skills and habits for students according to the principles of right view (sammāditṭhi) and right thought (sammāsaṅkappa) was also in the same level. The least can be seen in that of ‘to help each other creatively according to the moral principles based on the principles of right effort (sammāvāyāma), right mindfulness (sammāsati) and right concentration (sammāsamādhi).

                Based on the comparison, the scores of the samples’ opinions towards self-conducts according teachers’ professional standards based on the principles of Eightfold paths of the secondary school teachers in Social Studies, Religion and Culture department under the Khon Kaen Municipality schools, classified by their education, professional levels and experiences were differentiated at the statistical significance level of .05. This complied with the prior set hypothesis.

                The suggestions to develop self-conducts according teachers’ professional standards based on the principles of Eightfold paths were that the teachers with less experience should be supported, developed and encouraged to act in the civil service regulations; they should be trained to improve the quality of life in one's own line of work. The teacher training should be organized to promote discipline and rules by applying the teachings of Buddhism to the practice of teachers.