Journal of Contemporary Buddhist Society = JCBS

ADMINISTRATIVE MODELS FOR ENHANCING RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN PRIMARY SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITIES: A CASE STUDY OF THE CHANTHABURI PRIMARY EDUCATIONAL SERVICE AREA OFFICE

2025-08-03T23:29:41+07:00

This academic article aims to examine the models and approaches of school administration for enhancing community relations in primary schools under the supervision of the Chanthaburi Primary Educational Service Area Office. The study considers the roles of school administrators, administrative processes, participation of school personnel, and the effectiveness of school–community relationship development. The content focuses on analyzing administrative processes that emphasize community participation across planning, implementation, evaluation, and continuous development stages. The article highlights the importance of two-way communication between schools and communities, as well as the engagement of community leaders, parents, local organizations, and other stakeholders in co-thinking, co-creating, and co-developing educational initiatives.

Findings reveal that effective administrative models consist of three core components 1) continuous two-way communication between the school and the community, 2) participatory planning at all levels, which fosters a sense of ownership and ensures the sustainability of projects, and 3) partnership linkage through collaborative network structures. Three prominent administrative models were identified: 1) Policy Co-creation Model – involving joint policy formulation with local administrative organizations, 2) vertical Network Model – focusing on strategic coordination with central or affiliated agencies, and 3) local Stakeholder Participation Model – opening space for local partners to actively engage in educational development. These models are aligned with the cultural context and social structures of Chanthaburi province. Thus, administration aimed at fostering school–community relationships must go beyond basic coordination. It requires goal-oriented planning, a clear vision, and sustained participatory mechanisms to truly position the school as a center for learning and community quality-of-life development.

The Value Added Creation for Community Based Tourism of Banwangsai Community, Thungsong District, Nakhon Si Thammarat Province

2025-07-24T15:30:41+07:00

This article is part of a research project on enhancing the value of tourism in Banwangsai Community, Thungsong District, Nakhon Si Thammarat Province. The objectives were: 1) to study the travel behavior and evaluate the marketing factors influencing Thai tourists, and 2) to develop marketing strategies through the value creation process in tourism. The sample group included 98 tourists and 13 key informants from government, private, academic, and local sectors. Research instruments comprised questionnaires and focus group discussions. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics (frequency, percentage, mean, and standard deviation) and content analysis.

The study revealed that most tourists traveled for educational purposes, influenced by online media and their affiliated organizations. They visited on weekends using organizational transport, participated in environmental activities, spent over three hours in the community, and spent no more than 500 baht. Tourists gave the highest importance to personnel and the least to distribution channels. In terms of perceived value, local wisdom ranked highest, while archaeological and historical values ranked lowest. The proposed marketing strategies included: proactive strategies by identifying target groups and tailoring space and activities; corrective strategies by improving advertising via social media and participating in tourism exhibitions; preventive strategies by enhancing facilities and services for modern travelers; and responsive strategies by encouraging creative community participation to preserve natural and cultural heritage and ensure sustainable tourism.

The Development of Buddhist-oriented Group Process Activities to Enhance 21st Century Life Skills for Youth at Wat Lat Pla Khao School, Si Prachan District, Suphanburi Province

2025-08-20T14:03:06+07:00

This research has three objectives: 1) to study the Buddhist principles related to the development of 21st century life skills for youths at Wat Lat Pla Khao School, Si Prachan District, Suphan Buri Province; 2) to design a group process based on the Buddhist way of life that promotes 21st century life skills; and 3) to organize a group process activity based on the Buddhist way of life for youths in the school to develop comprehensive life skills. The research method used was a mixed methods research, consisting of documentary research to analyze the relevant principles, qualitative research by collecting data from in-depth interviews with 10 informants, and focus groups with 9 participants, consisting of youths, teachers, and monks in the area, as well as action research by organizing an experimental activity with a group of 25 youths to measure the results before and after participating in the activity.

The results of the study found that Buddhist principles can be used as an important tool to develop youths’ life skills comprehensively in the dimensions of emotions, minds, society, and behavior, especially the use of important principles: Adhipanya, Adhijitti, Sanghavatthu 4, Bodhipakkhiyadhamma 37, Yoniso Manasikara, and the 4 Bases of Power, which can create an ethical foundation. Developing analytical thinking and life skills systematically In designing and organizing group process activities according to the Buddhist way, it was found that all 4 types of activities, namely role-playing, self-reflection stage, digital world analysis, and Dharma games, can stimulate youths to dare to express themselves, be responsible, know how to set goals, control themselves, understand themselves, and be able to apply Dharma principles to real life. This reflects the potential of integrating Dharma principles into participatory learning processes that respond to the goals of education in the 21st century.

BUDDHA’S TEACHINGS AND WISDOM FOR CULTIVATING FAMILY HARMONY

2025-08-27T10:34:32+07:00

This research paper examines how the Buddha’s teachings can be applied to promote harmony within today’s family systems, especially in the context of increasing emotional stress, broken relationships and conflict in a fast-paced, technology-driven world. The main goals of the study are to explore the core Buddhist teachings on family ethics, assess their practical relevance for everyday life, and suggest general principles that can support healthy and lasting family relationships.

The method used in this study is thematic content analysis, where important ideas from the texts were identified, grouped into themes, and then linked to common family issues seen today-like conflict between parents and children, emotional stress, or lack of communication between partners. Along with the primary texts, relevant commentaries and modern writings on Buddhist ethics and psychology were also referred to for deeper understanding.

The goal was to find how the original teachings of the Buddha could help us deal with real-life problems in families today. The study highlights important causes of disharmony, such as greed (lobha), anger (dosa), and delusion (moha), and also explores positive qualities like gratitude (kataññutā), patience (khanti), truthfulness (sacca), and loving-kindness (mettā), which can support healthy relationships.

As a key contribution, the study offers a conceptual model that matches the common family problems with Buddhist teachings along with suggested actions thereby making it easier to see how the Dhamma can be applied in daily life. The study also brings together ideas like the Five Precepts and the Four Brahmavihāras that can be followed by anyone who wants to build a peaceful and caring home environment. This model may also serve as a foundation for future studies on the effectiveness of Buddhist approaches to real-world family issues.

This research contributes new knowledge by presenting a conceptual model that systematically links Buddhist virtues with contemporary family conflicts

Development of Reading Comprehension Skills Through Jatakas in Theravada Buddhism Using kwl Plus Model for the 1st Year Undergraduate Students of Faculty of Education, Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya University

2025-08-20T14:25:24+07:00

The objectives of this research were to: 1) study the problems in English reading comprehension skills for the first-year undergraduate students, 2) design and develop the English reading comprehension skills through Jatakas in Theravada Buddhism using the kwl plus model for the first-year undergraduate students and 3) assess students’ feedback on the kwl plus model. The target group comprised of 40 first-year undergraduates, with a sample of 20 students enrolled in the 2024 academic year. The research tools were: 1) the four lesson plans based on selected Jataka stories using the KWL Plus teaching, 2) implementing pre-tests and post-tests to assess reading comprehension skills, 3) collecting data through questionnaires and feedback forms to evaluate students’ attitudes and satisfaction, 4) analyzing data using statistical methods (mean, standard deviation, t-tests) and qualitative analysis of student feedback.

The findings were found that students are highly motivated and confident in reading Jataka stories in English, but still need targeted support to overcome persistent comprehension challenges. By focusing on vocabulary, grammar, digital support, and explicit reading strategies, educators can help these students achieve greater success and enjoyment in their reading and further boost their confidence and reading success. Meanwhile, students’ English reading comprehension skills, it significantly improved after learning by using the KWL Plus model with Jataka stories, as evidenced by higher post-test scores compared to pre-test scores at \bar{x}=25.5, S.D.= 1.9 and \bar{x}=18.4, S.D.= 4.1) and T-test score getting statistically significant level at 0.05. These demonstrated enhanced abilities in vocabulary acquisition, understanding text structure, identifying main ideas, and summarizing content and students’ Feedback indicated high levels of satisfaction with the teaching approach, reported increased motivation, engagement, and positive attitudes towards English reading, attributing their progress to the integration of familiar and relevant Jataka stories with the structured KWL Plus model.

Key Words: Reading Comprehension Skills, Jatakas, KWL Plus, Theravada Buddhism.