Student discipline: It needs to be humane but still ensure a deterrent effect.

Educating students with love.

For nearly 20 years, Ms. Dang Thi Hien of Yen Thanh 2 High School has been assigned by the school administration to be the homeroom teacher for many special classes, often at the bottom of the class rankings. Despite the challenging nature of the task, Ms. Hien has never refused it. On the contrary, she feels happy to have the school's trust in her.

Ms. Hien shared: "Usually, students who are weak academically are also weak in character development, and educating students must involve both teaching knowledge and moral education simultaneously. However, teachers should not 'hold a grudge' against students or lose faith in them just because they have many limitations."

Through her many years as a homeroom teacher, Ms. Hien shared that to educate students, one must first understand their psychology. High school students are maturing and have high self-esteem. Therefore, when students violate discipline, she rarely criticizes or reprimands them in front of the class. Instead, she usually meets with the students or their parents privately to discuss the issue, understand the reasons, and find solutions. When students feel she is listening, they will trust her and share their difficulties and problems.

Having dedicated many years to teaching, teacher Phan Thị Thanh Hà from Kỳ Tân Secondary School in Tân Kỳ commune also shared that for many years she has been the homeroom teacher for classes with problematic students. However, using her own methods, she has gradually helped these students improve and later become diligent and academically successful.

Nguyen Cong Hieu, a recent graduate of the Polytechnic University this year, is one such example. Hieu grew up in difficult circumstances and at one point was considered a "problem student" due to his disruptive and unruly behavior. After discussing his situation with his family, the teacher regularly talked to him, shared experiences, and supported him, helping him to change day by day. Thanks to this, from an average student, he rose to become an excellent student at the district and provincial levels, and later passed the entrance exam to his dream university.

Speaking further about Hieu, teacher Thanh Ha shared: "Later, after graduating, Hieu often confided in me. Sometimes he would ask why, despite his mischievous behavior in the past, I still trusted him and taught him so diligently."

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Personally, I believe there are many ways to influence students. However, first and foremost, we must treat students like our own children, care for them, and understand each individual's circumstances in order to apply appropriate methods.

No matter how mischievous or unruly students may be, they still have a knack for doing good. We must find that quality in order to encourage and motivate them, helping them to improve.

Teacher Phan Thị Thanh Hà - Kỳ Tân Secondary School, Tân Kỳ Commune

Treat each individual appropriately.

The Ministry of Education and Training has just issued Circular No. 19/2025/TT-BGDĐT regulating awards and commendations.disciplineCompared to Circular 08/TT of 1988, the new regulations have removed severe disciplinary measures such as reprimand before the disciplinary council, school-wide warning, suspension from school, or temporary or one-year expulsion. Instead, from October 31st onwards, students who violate discipline will be reminded, criticized, or required to write a self-criticism report…

Immediately after its issuance, Circular 19 received much attention and feedback from parents and students. Mr. Ho Duc Viet, Principal of Ethnic Boarding High School No. 2, stated that Circular 19 has eliminated all disciplinary measures that are insulting to the dignity and honor of students, and negatively impact their physical and mental well-being. This is a very progressive and humane approach aimed at educating and helping students recognize their violations. From there, they can consciously adjust their behavior, rectify the consequences, and consciously cultivate and improve themselves, forming disciplined habits and lifestyles.

Speaking about the new disciplinary regulations for students, Nguyen Van Cuong, a student in class 11T2 at Do Luong 3 High School, said: "Most students have experienced disciplinary violations at least once, to varying degrees. In my own case, during my 10th grade year, I was punished by having to do manual labor like weeding in class because I frequently talked. Although the punishment wasn't severe, I felt ashamed in front of my teachers and classmates."

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If students violate school or class regulations repeatedly, appropriate disciplinary action will be taken at various levels, such as warnings, writing self-criticism reports, inviting parents, or performing community service.

However, measures such as expulsion or suspension from school should not be used as they will affect students' learning and disrupt their classroom education.

Student Nguyen Van Cuong - Do Luong 3 High School

Many also believe that disciplining students who violate discipline is necessary. However, if the disciplinary measures only stop at warnings, requests for apologies, criticism, or writing self-criticism reports, it is not enough to deter and educate students.

This week, Ms. Nguyen Thi M, a teacher at a public school in Truong Vinh ward, expressed her frustration that in just under two months of the school year, a 10th-grade student had already been involved in fights with classmates three times in class. When the homeroom teacher contacted the parents, they were uncooperative. "I think that in some exceptional cases, simply reminding them or having them write self-criticism reports isn't enough of a deterrent, and the students don't have the awareness to adjust their behavior. In this case, if the school can't handle it, we may seek help from other relevant agencies for stricter educational measures."

Furthermore, besides the school, I believe that parents need to take responsibility for managing students at home and should not leave it entirely to the school. The law also needs to be clearer to hold parents accountable for managing their children, because currently there are cases where parents know but still allow their children to violate the rules, such as using vehicles when underage, using, possessing, or supplying e-cigarettes. If students violate the rules, it not only affects the individual students but also impacts the school's educational environment," added teacher Nguyen Thi M.

Regarding the disciplinary measure of "writing a self-criticism report" for students, teacher Ngo Thuy Nga from Nghi Loc 3 High School shared: "The purpose of Circular 19 is correct and necessary, but the way it is implemented makes me very concerned."

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In reality, in education, each student, each circumstance, and each situation requires appropriate educational methods. Therefore, the aforementioned form of discipline will not be effective in educating all students in general.

At the same time, this circular is inadvertently making things difficult for teachers and schools, and may even be counterproductive to education, failing to achieve the goals it aims to achieve.

Ms. Ngo Thuy Nga - teacher at Nghi Loc 3 High School