Debsirin School
| Debsirin School โรงเรียนเทพศิรินทร์ |
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|---|---|
| Address | |
| 1466 Krungkasem Road, Wat Thepsirintharawat Subdistrict, Pom Prap Sattru Phai District, Bangkok, Thailand | |
| Information | |
| Type | State school |
| Motto | Na siyā lokavaḍḍhano (Be not a useless person) |
| Established | 15 March 1885 |
| Founder | King Chulalongkorn |
| Director | Anan Subwaree |
| Color(s) | |
| Song | Ahogumara |
| Website | debsirin.ac.th |
Debsirin School (Thai: โรงเรียนเทพศิรินทร์, pronounced [tʰêːp.sì.rīn]) is a boys' secondary school in Thailand. Founded by King Chulalongkorn in 1885, its alumni include King Ananda Mahidol, Malaysia's founding father Tunku Abdul Rahman, more than 70 cabinet members, including 5 prime ministers, and numerous military leaders and dignitaries. Debsirin School participates in Jaturamitr Samakkee, a biennial traditional football competition between the four oldest boys' schools in Thailand.
The fifth Abbot of Wat Thep Sirin Thrawat had donated land for a school as early as 1702. King Mongkut had tried to modernize Siam, enabling it to stand up to the European powers. He was succeeded by his 15-year-old son, Chulalongkorn, who reigned as Rama V, now known as Rama the Great. Rama V was the first Siamese king to have a Western education, having been taught by a British governess, Anna Leonowens. As Bangkok developed as the capital of the new nation of Siam, Rama V's government began several nationwide development projects, despite financial hardship. New roads, bridges, railways, hospitals and schools mushroomed throughout the country, all funded from the national budget.
In a speech at a student award ceremony in 1884, the King said;
"... Academic subjects have been acceptable and admirable because they have been precious subjects for leaders like the kings. All citizens deserve to know because they enable everything to be successful. "
"... The princes, royal family members, bureaucrats and all citizens will have equal educational opportunities. Therefore, education will be the first priority which I will try to develop to become prosperous. "
In 1885, he founded the school, naming it in honour of his mother, Debsirindra Queen Ramphoei Phamaraphirom (Thai: รำเพยภมราภิรมย์). The school opened with 53 pupils.
During World War II Thailand, under Field Marshal Plaek Pibulsongkram, was allied with the Axis powers and declared war on the United Kingdom and United States when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. Bangkok suffered heavily in the subsequent Allied bombing raids and Debsirin School, strategically located near the railway, was not spared. Most of the teaching buildings (Maen Naruemit and Choduek Laohasetthi) were destroyed. They were later rebuilt by the alumni and the Ministry of Education. The main building, renamed Maen Suksa Stan Building, was built in the Gothic style.
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