Student discipline: Need to be humane but still ensure deterrence

Educating students with love

For nearly 20 years standing on the podium, for many years teacher Dang Thi Hien - Yen Thanh 2 High School was assigned by the board of directors to be in charge of special classes, which are in the "bottom group" of the school. Although the task is more difficult, Ms. Hien has never refused this job. On the contrary, she is happy because the school trusts her.

Ms. Hien shared: Usually, students who are weak in studying are also weak in training, and the education of students must be carried out in parallel with teaching knowledge and moral education. However, teachers should not "pin" students down because students have many limitations and not put their trust in them.

After many years of working as a homeroom teacher, Ms. Hien said that to educate students, one must first understand their psychology. High school students are starting to grow up and have high self-esteem. Therefore, when students violate discipline, I rarely criticize or reprimand them in front of the class. On the contrary, I often meet with students or their parents privately to discuss, find out the cause and find solutions. When students feel that I listen, they will trust and share their difficulties and problems.

Having been in the teaching profession for many years, teacher Phan Thi Thanh Ha - Ky Tan Secondary School, Tan Ky Commune also said that for many years she was in charge of classes with problem students. But with her own methods, she has gradually helped them improve and later become good students and good students.

Nguyen Cong Hieu - a student who just graduated from the University of Technology this year is one of them. Hieu was a student who grew up in difficult circumstances and at one point was classified as a "special" student because he was often disruptive and rebellious. When talking to his family, knowing his situation, she often talked, discussed, and accompanied the student to help him change every day. Thanks to that, from an average student, he rose to become an excellent student of the district, an excellent student of the province and later passed the entrance exam to the university of his dreams.

Speaking more about Hieu, teacher Thanh Ha shared: Later, after graduating, Hieu often confided in me. Sometimes he asked me why I still trusted him and taught him wholeheartedly even though he was so naughty in the past.

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Personally, I think there are many ways to influence students. However, first of all, we must consider students as our own children, take care of them and understand each situation to have the appropriate method.

No matter how naughty or bad students are, they still have good qualities. And we have to find that to encourage and motivate them to improve.

Teacher Phan Thi Thanh Ha - Ky Tan Secondary School, Tan Ky Commune

Treatment tailored to each subject

The Ministry of Education and Training has just issued Circular No. 19/2025/TT-BGDDT regulating rewards anddisciplineStudents. Compared to Circular 08/TT in 1988, the new regulation has eliminated severe forms of discipline such as reprimand before the disciplinary council, warning the whole school, suspension from school, expulsion for a period of time or 1 year. Instead, from October 31 onwards, students who violate discipline will be warned, criticized or write a self-criticism...

As soon as Circular 19 was issued, it received many comments and concerns from parents and students. Teacher Ho Duc Viet - Principal of Boarding High School No. 2 for Ethnic Minorities said: Circular 19 has eliminated all disciplinary measures that offend the dignity and honor, affecting the physical and mental health of students. This is a very progressive and humane viewpoint aimed at educating and helping students to self-aware of their violations. From there, they can self-regulate their behavior, overcome the consequences, self-cultivate, practice to improve and form disciplined habits and lifestyles.

Regarding student discipline according to the new regulations, student Nguyen Van Cuong - class 11T2, Do Luong 3 High School said: Most students have once violated discipline with different levels. I myself, in grade 10, because of frequently talking in class, was also punished by being forced to do weeding. Although this punishment was not severe, I felt ashamed in front of teachers and friends.

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If students violate school and class regulations repeatedly, they will be disciplined at different levels, such as warning, writing a self-criticism, inviting parents, or sending them to work.

However, forms such as forced suspension or leave of absence should not be used because they will affect the absorption of lessons and disrupt students' learning in class.

Student Nguyen Van Cuong - Do Luong 3 High School

Many opinions also believe that it is necessary to discipline students if they violate discipline. However, if the form of discipline stops at just reminding, asking for an apology, criticizing or writing a self-criticism, it is not enough to deter and educate students.

This week, teacher Nguyen Thi M, a teacher at a public school in Truong Vinh ward, expressed her frustration that after only 2 months of school, a 10th grade student had often quarreled and fought with his friends 3 times in class. When the homeroom teacher contacted the parents, he did not receive cooperation. "I think that, in some individual cases, reminding and writing a self-criticism will not be enough of a deterrent and the students will not have the awareness to adjust their personal behavior. In this case, if the school cannot handle it, we may ask other relevant units to educate with more strict measures.

In addition, besides the school, I think that parents need to be responsible for managing students at home, and should not leave it to the school. The law also needs to be clearer so that parents can be responsible for managing students, because currently there are cases where parents know but still let their children violate, such as using means of transport when they are not old enough, using, storing, and providing electronic cigarettes. If students violate, it will not only affect the individual student but also affect the school education environment," teacher Nguyen Thi M added.

Regarding the form of student discipline being "writing a self-criticism", teacher Ngo Thuy Nga - teacher at Nghi Loc 3 High School also shared: The purpose of Circular 19 is correct and necessary, but the way it is done makes me very concerned.

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In reality, each student, each situation, each situation requires appropriate educational methods. Therefore, the above mentioned form of discipline will not be effective in general education for all students.

At the same time, this circular is invisibly making it difficult for teachers and schools, and may even be anti-educational, rather than achieving the goals set out in the circular.

Teacher Ngo Thuy Nga - teacher at Nghi Loc 3 High School