Abstract:
The purposes of this research were 1) to study the internal and external characteristics of Central Region Community, in 3 different school sizes, i.e. large, intermediate and small, according to the concept of Community Education, 2) to compare and contrast the two kinds of characteristics according to the mentioned sizes and 3) to build up supportive and obstructive characteristics of Community Schools of each size. The study was conducted by using two Qualitative Research Methods : deep interview research via two interrogating forms and documentary research via two checklists. The samples were 1) a group of 15 directors and teachers and 2) a group of 14 community leaders. Data were analyzed with Content Analysis. The research results are followers. 1) Concerning the internal characteristics of central Region Community School, it is found that a) parents, former students, local philosophers, community members and monks participate in school activities , by supporting money and other necessary materials, exchanging ideas for development and serving on school commissions ; b) most of the school personnel does not turn to their communities and c) the schools can provide community developing activities and proper education relevant to their communities , depending on their readiness. With regard to the external characteristics of Central Region Community Schools, it is found that a) the community leaders contribute ideas about administration well as budget to their schools and have good relations with them ; b) the schools can use their personnel and natural resources appropriately ; c) the leaders of urban communities have bad relations with their community members and d) urban community members take little part in their schools activities. 2) the comparing and contrasting result reveals that the size of a school does have a) an internal effect on the point of community members participating in school administration and the point of school personnel training and b) an external effect on the point of community leaders participating in school activities and the point of the relationship between community members and their leaders. 3) The supportive characteristics of community schools are the characteristics that a) school personnel is local and turns to their communities ; b) community members acknowledge their schools significance ; c) parents, community members and community organizations offer community support ; and d) the schools have buildings and materials fully available. The objective characteristics of community schools are the characteristics that a) the school personnel bears too heavy duty ; b) the schools do not have good relation with urban communities ; c) the schools lack vocational personnel and budget and d) the schools lack monitoring and evaluating activities undertaken in collaboration with their communities.