Reckless role models

Re: “Teacher debt out of control”, (Opinion, Nov 26).

I would have thought that those responsible for educating the young would have, in addition to skills in teaching the subjects for which they are employed, a high standard of morals and ethics. Yet the editorial cites the massive debts incurred by nearly half a million teachers who are spending beyond their means to buy expensive consumer products to gain “face”.

This behaviour is irresponsible and does not bode well when it comes to setting examples for the young generation. I assume there are numerous teachers who do a good job, insofar as the education system in Thailand permits, but there also appears to be a disproportionate number of teachers who think getting into insurmountable debt for most of their lives is worth it for the sake of keeping up with the Joneses.

MARTIN R