“Good Child Discourses” in Thai and Malaysian Textbooks

Abstract

This article is a part of the research. The objectives of this study were 1) to analyze and compare the discourse of “Good Child” in Thai and Malaysian elementary textbooks, and 2) to analyze and compare the discourse and discourse practice of the “Good Child” in the social and cultural context of Thailand and Malaysia. This study was a qualitative research by analyzing the texts according to Fairclough Critical Discourse Analysis Concept through 39 of Thai and Malaysian elementary textbooks during 2007-2016 by focusing on the analysis of documents through their own and others' views on the “Good Child”

The results of the research were as follows: the nature of the textbooks and the role of good children as evidenced in the textbooks. It was found to have both common and similar characteristics. Firstly, both Thai and Malaysian textbooks offered three commonalities of ideas; that were pictures of good child which behaves as expected by the elders in the societies, thoughts of political ideology to educate children, and social criticism. Secondly, the similarities shared by the Thai and Malaysian textbooks were story presentations. The stories presented in pictures which were embedded by good child characteristics through the characters’ actions and behaviors. As such readers would raise their perceptions of good and bad things by avoiding what is bad and following what is good.